Far from deserving the title of great which some English visitors have
bestowed upon Mr Kruger, it seems to be that the most fitting title
would be "little." The gifts the gods have given his State he
resolutely refuses. His sole purpose and object seems to be to make the
South African Republic the China of South Africa. He declines to admit
men who are in every way qualified to the burghership, though every
other new country is competing for such men. The Americans welcomed
every able-bodied incomer as a fresh ally, and valued each workman as
being worth 200 pounds to the State. Thirty years ago citizenship
depended upon nativity, and could never be abandoned. The idea was a
relic of the Middle Ages, and was traceable to tribal superstition of
prehistoric times, but as nearly every country in the civilised world
has consented to admit people of all races to citizenship after a
probationary period of from three to five years, the South African
Republic only marks its own retrogression to barbarism by extending the
term to fifteen years. Mr Kruger, instead of granting to foreigners
common rights which were sealed to them by a Solemn Convention, for
which let it be always remembered the independence of the State was
assured, prefers to keep 80,000 uitlanders outside the pale of
citizenship, to irritate them by onerous laws passed by an oligarchy of
twenty-four men, and to grind them with taxes. If he made them burghers
his country would be the premier State in South Africa, and he might
then do almost what he liked, except invade his neighbours' territories.
The worst that could befall a Boer is that some candidate might be
thwarted in his hopes of the Presidency, but the inviolability of the
Republic and its Independence would be placed beyond danger.