The British immigrants in the Transvaal, who now greatly outnumber
the Boers, appear determined to assert their right to political equality. The National Union which represents them is to meet on January 6th, and has already issued its programme, which is briefly to establish a free Republic, with "an equitable franchise" and Ministerial responsibility, equality of the two languages, irremovable Judges, a per- manent Civil Service, and "Free-trade in African products." The English are at one with the Dutch in keeping the Transvaal a separate State, but would of course come to some agreement with British South Africa. The Boers have the usual three courses before them—to fight, to yield, or to trek—but as yet their decision is uncertain. It will be greatly influenced by the fact that the "ITitlanders" have enormously enriched the Transvaal, and that civil war would destroy all the new prosperity.
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