TRANSVAAL FROM WITHIN

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 22, 27 January 1931, Page 9

TRANSVAAL FROM WITHIN

The name of Sir Percy Fitzpatriek is graven in the history of the Traansvaal, for he was an active worker and Secretary of the "Reform Committee" which set about an attempt to use force to alter the conduct of affairs in the Transvaal, 35 years ago. The Uitlanders (later the "Progressives") in the re-established State were settlers who found life among the Boers very uncomfortable, and who were heavily taxed and disfranchised. Petitions signed by 40,000 names were ignored by the Government, and all constitutional, means employed came to nothing. Finally, they arranged with Dr. Leander Jameson that he should maintain a force of 1500 mounted men and have with him 1500 spare rifles and 5000 rounds of ammunition, while 5000 rifles, three Maxim guns, and about a million rounds of ammunition. were to be smuggled into Johannesburg. It was calculated that in.the town itself there would be about 1000 rifles, privately owned. In the event of a junction of forces, the Uitlanders would number about 9000 men, with fair equipment of rifles and machine-guns. The Pretoria fort also was to have been seized by 50 men and 10,000 more rifles, ten field guns, and 12 million rounds of ammunition captured. Behind Jameson there was, of course, Cecil Rhodes, for Rhodes's and Jameson's fortunes were associated and they were friends. Some of the arrangements for the rebellion were made in Rhodes's own house, and with Rhodes was- acting Alfred Beit. FROM A BOOK? ~■ . Possibly, said Fitzpatrick in his book, "The Transvaal from Within," the movement germinated when Jameson read the "Life of Olive." JNo one seemed to know just how the idea of the famous "Raid" was conceived. But" in November, 1895, a letter of invitation was-sent to Jameson from the "Reform Committee." "The position of thousands of Englishmen' and others is rapidly becoming ■unbearable," it said. "Not satisfied with making the* Uitlander population pay virtually the whole of the revenue of the country ivhile denying them representation, the Government's policy has been steadily to encroach on the liberty of the subject | and to undermine'- the sense of security of property to such an extent as to cause a deep-seated sense of discontent and danger." The^letter called upon Jameson to come to "their assistance should disturbances arise. The plaii had been maturing from the previous June, and agitation was constantly maintained in the endeavour to ' obtain, concessions from President Kruger. Meanwhile, to put the Uitlander case before the world, Charles Leonard, the Chairman of the National Union, issued a manifesto. ; Jameson, however, could not obtain "more than 500 men. The scheme to seize the Pretoria fort had to be abandoned, as Pretoria was thronged with Boers. Finally, Jameson became impatient of delay, and in spite of messages from the leaders of the movement, messages which told him on no account to move, marched into the Transvaal. The raid failed. Leonard was away from Johannesburg when the news that Jameson had started reached the , city. A "Reform Committee" was) formed, and Lionel Phillips, a partner! of one of the largest mining firms in I the Rand, was elected Chairman. Arms were distributed, and Colonel Frank Rhodes was given command of the men. A large body of police was maintained, and order was kept in the town. At Doornkop, Jameson found himself surrounded, and surrendered, a course which led to. his being handed over to the British authorities for punishment. Years later Jameson- . stated that the raid was nofej racial, but a move towards federation. 'As to the reasons for Rhodes's interest there never was any doubt.:' He frankly admitted that he sought an amelioration of conditions to which, he thought he was entiled because of his enormous holdings in the Transvaal. PRISON. The leading members of the Refona Committee, among them Fitzpatrick, were arrested and tried. Four, Phillips, Colonel Rhodes, Farrar, and Hammond, were sentenced to death, the rest to two years' imprisonment. The death sentences, however, were later commuted. Each man was fined £2000, and the sentences on all save six (the four leaders and two others who declined to appeal) were remitted. Then negotiations were entered upon for the release of the four leaders (the sueeestion came from the Government) provided that they offered * 25,000 each. This followed protest meetings in every town in South Africa, even including, towns in the Free State. Four years later the political issue led to war. Sir (James) Percy Fitzpatrick was 33 years of age in the year 1895. He was a son of the Hon. James Coleman Fitzpatrick, of Ireland, and was educated at St. Gregory's College, near Bath. Ho had been in the Transvaal snee 1884, had gone with Randolph Clhiirffhill on his Mashonaland expedition in 1891, and been with the firm of Eckstein and Co. (Phillips's firm) since 1892. Three years after the Raid he became a partner. In 1902 he was President of the Witwatersrand Chamber of Mines, and in 1910-20 was M.P. .for Pretoria East.