THE REVOLT OF THE UITLANDERS 
363 
vastly less difficult than those with which President Kruger and 
Dr Leyds have successful!}" grappled during the past few months. 
This district might be governed by commissioners and a judiciary 
appointed by the president of the republic, almost precisely as 
the District of Columbia is administered. The efficiency of such 
an administration would depend only on securing al^le and 
honest men, and it is absurd to doubt that the Transvaal can 
secure the services of such. The present tyrannical oppres- 
sion of the Rand disgraces a people to whom no sacrifices were 
too great for the attainment of their own freedom. They should 
be the first to appreciate the hardships under which the Uit- 
landers are suffering, and to show the value they themselves 
put on liberty by imposing no unjust restraints upon others. 
The Uitlanders made repeated efforts, by passing resolutions 
and presenting petitions, to obtain the franchise and the redress 
of grievances. These efforts extended over several years, hut 
they met with no success. During the closing months of 1895 
the agitation for reform was accentuated. The discontent of the 
Uitlanders was at this stage fomented under the guise of sym- 
pathy by residents of other portions of South Africa with a view 
to creating disturbances in the republic for ulterior ends. The 
idea was broached of making an armed demonstration, which it 
Avas hoped might impress the Boers sufficiently to bring about 
the desired changes. This seemed possible, because the Uit- 
landers are supposed to number about 50,000 men and the 
Boers only about 25,000 * adult males. 
The plan of threatening the government with force of arms 
Avas unfortunate from its very inception. Many of the Uitlanders 
felt that Avhile the grievances Avere sore, they Avere not great 
enough to justify armed revolt, and these men AvithdreAv from 
the movement. The seceders Avere chiefly those least susceptil)le 
to the influence of the ]>urely English element in South Africa, 
viz., the Germans and a feAV Frenchmen. The bad feeling and 
even alienation arising from this defection is not yet allayed. The 
split in the Chamber of Mines, Avhich is noAV unfavorably affect- 
ing business, Avas one of its results. AN’hile the Boers Avere fully 
equipi)od, the foreigners Avere almost unarmed, and the importa- 
tion of arms is under legal restrictions, originating in the neces- 
sity of limiting or sui)pressing the sale of guns to the blacks. 
To procure arms in any (piantity. therefore, it was necessary to 
♦ This is Mr Ctmries Leonard's estimate. Tlio Boers on tlmt imsis must count a total 
population of something like 125, (KKi. The Uitlanders in the repuhlic are very largely 
bactielors and prohahly number sometliing like 75,000 men, women, and children. 
