hich granted representation in a second Volksraad to burghers of
two years' standing. The latest legislation concerning the right of
franchise is given in the enactment of July, 1899. This law, together
with negotiations looking toward further concessions to the Uitlander
population forms the subject of our third chapter. No agreement having
been reached, and numerous complications having arisen, conspicuously
the movements of British troops, the Ultimatum of President Kruger on
October 9, precipitated a state of war.

In presenting this Ultimatum President Kruger knew that the Republic
would not have to fight alone, but that there would be practically a war
of the South African Dutch against the English. The declaration of the
Orange Free State to Great Britain will therefore be of interest, as
expressing the grounds of sympathy between the South African Republic
and the Orange Free State, and the latter's view of the _causa belli_.
Lastly we add the constitution of the Orange Free State that the
political status of the two republics may be appreciated by comparison
of their constitutions.

The documents have been compiled from the _Codex van de Locale Wetten
der Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. Groeningen, 1894_; _The Political Laws
of the South African Republic. London and Cape Town, 1896_; and the
_State Papers of Great Britain, London, 1884-99_.

WASHINGTON, _February 10, 1900_.

CONTENTS.

PAGE
CHAPTER I.

1. Convention of London, February 27, 1884 7

2. Ratification by Volksraad, August 8, 1884 14

CHAPTER II.

3. Constitution of the South African Republic, revised and published
December 25, 1889 16

4. Establishment of the Second Volksraad, June 23, 1890 40

CHAPTER III.

_The Franchise._

5. The Franchise Law. July 26, 1899 47

6. Proposed modification

(a) Proposal of Great Britain for a joint inquiry, August 2, 1899 53

(b) Alternative proposal of the South African Republic--The five
year franchise, August 19, 1899 53

CHAPTER IV.

7. Ultimatum of South African Republic, October 9, 1899 57

8. Reply of Great Britain, October 10, 1899 61

CHAPTER V.

_Dual alliance of the