The Times of Monday contains a summary of the petition
to the Queen which has been signed by twenty-one thousand British an bjects in the Transvaal. The petition points out the regular Outlander grievances, and notes that the promises of redress have not only not been kept, but that since they were made the position of the Outlanders has become worse. The petition cites among other examples "the Press Law, giving the President arbitrary powers; the Aliens' Expulsion Law, permitting the expulsion of British subjects at the will of the President without appeal to the High Court, while burghers cannot be expelled, this being contrary to the Convention." The municipality granted to Johannes- burg is declared to be worthless. It is entirely sub- ject to the Government. " Half of the councillors are necessarily burghers, though the burghers and IIitlandera number 1,000 and 23,000 respectively. The Government rejected the report of the Industrial Commission, which was composed of its own officials." The High Court has been reduced to a condition of subservience, and the police, ex- elusively burghers, are ignorant and prejudiced, and a danger to the community. "Jurors are necessarily burghers. and justice is impossible in cases where a racial issue may be in- volved." After mentioning the shooting of the man Edgar, the petition ends by declaring that the condition of the British subjects is intolerable, and asking for an inquiry to be held into their grievances. We have the strongest possible sympathy for the Outlanders, and regard the humiliating and unnatural position in which they are placed with deep regret. It must not be forgotten, however, that it is to Mr. Rhodes more than to any other man that they owe their present evil plight. If he bad not by the Raid placed our Government in the wrong, we might as paramount Power have long ago insisted on reforms in the Transvaal. As it is, our hands are in a great measure tied. Still, Mr. Kruger must remember that even the Raid is not a perpetual estoppel to action in favour of the genuine grievances of the Out- landers.
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