ached the Volksraad in a petition signed by
14,800 persons. The petitioners did not ask that the Republic should be
placed under the control of the British Government; on the contrary,
they postulated the maintenance of its independence; all that they asked
was for "equitable administration and fair representation." This
petition was received with angry contempt. "Protest, protest as much as
you like," said Mr. Krueger, "I have arms, and you have none."

It is contended that if President Krueger did provide himself to a
formidable extent with munitions of war, it was not until after the
Jameson Raid.

Here the connexion between cause and effect is not very clear; Jameson
once beaten there was no further cause to arm against him. But from the
Uitlanders' petition, to which allusion has been made, it is evident
that armaments had begun before. Among the alleged grievances we find
the following:--

"A policy of force is openly declared against us; L250,000 have
been expended on the construction of forts; upon one alone,
designed to terrorise the inhabitants of Johannesburg, L100,000 has
been spent. Large orders have been given to Krupp for big guns and
maxims; and it is said that German Officers are coming to drill the
burghers."

The Uitlanders of Johannesburg treated with contumely, adopted the
theories made use of by the Boers in their Petition of Rights of
February 17th, 1881, by which they justified their insurrection against
British rule, of December, 1880.

"Then the cause was unexpectedly helped on by the courageous
resistance of O. Bezuidenhout against the seizure of his household
effects for non-payment of taxes. Here was a breach of the law easy
to lay hold of; here was a crime indeed! It was illegal,
undoubtedly, but illegal in the same sense as was the refusal of
Hampden to pay the four or five shillings "ship money"; the taking
of den Briel by the Watergeuzen (Waterbeggars) in 1572; as was the
throwing overboard of a cargo of tea in Boston; as was the plot in
Cape Colony against the importation of convicts. All these acts
were illegal, but of such are the illegalities in which a people
takes refuge, when a Government fails in its duty to a law higher
than that of man."

In virtue of the principles invoked by the Boers, the Johannesburg
Uitlanders entered into a conspiracy; Jameson was to come to their aid
after t