New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-07
THE FATE or SOUTH AFRICA.

The beginning of the end is at hand in South
Africa. Cecil Rhodes has arrived IN England
and is about TO submit himself to searching
inquiry into his connection with the Jameson
raid Of year or more ago. and into the attltude
and actions of the British South Africa Com
pany of which he was the create: and has al
WAYS been the controller, toward the South Afrl-
can Republic That, on the face of 1t, Will be
the scope Of the investigation. Actually, 1t VIII
cover the whole British policy in South Africa,
the relations between the two immigrant races
and the standing Of the South African RepuDlc
toward Great Britain and Germany. In the
personal interest of its central figure the in
vestigation will rival the trial Of Warren Hast
ngs. In the Importance OF It's bearing upon the
fortunes of the British Empire it vastly tran
sccnds that historic episode or would were It's
conclusions not already discounted in advance.
The question to be decided is, nominay, the
degree Of Mr. Rhodess culpability In the Jane
son raid and in the policy of which 1t was
part Really that question is already answered.
Il am not going to lie about it,, said Mr. Rhodes
at the outset. as quoted in The sketch of him
printed elsewhere in to-day's paper He does
not deny responsibility for the raid; and that re-
sponsblity marks him as not overburdened with
moral scruples. That may be granted. Whether
or not the nation which has. in his terse phrase
ology. Jumped the world" will cOndone his at
tempt TO Jump" the Transvaa in its behalf Is
not Of supreme importance. He can endure its
censure and the cenSure of every other stone
thrOwor that lives in glass house; as who does
not? The Great Powers are all "land jump
ers." Russia. Austria and Prussia Jumped
roland France Jumped TOnquin, Siam, Tunis
and Madagascar; Italy dumped Erythrea and
tried to Jump all .Abyssna, and even the
United States Jumped fine slice Of Mexico
and Indian lands Unreasonable. What was
Cecil Rhodes's crime compared with these?
But the real question, which also Ia snbstan-
tally answered, is whether Mr. Rhodess policy
is to be fulfilled, and what has been gained for
Great Britain In South Africa. by whatever
means to be retained. higher power than
courts or Parliamentary committees has decided
that in the affirmative The genius OF the Anglo
Saxon race has settled 1t. That Is the progress
sive race. and South Africa, like all the rest OF
the world. must yield 10 progress The men
who made of Kimberley new and greater
Golconda and renewed tenfold the golden glories
! OF old Ophir on the Rand, are sure to win the
mastery over those who are content to smoke
big pipes and "wallop niggers.' True, the
| Beers own the Transvaal by no better title
than the Amazulus did before them, and the
British have no right to crowd them ont by legal
process or political intrigue any more than the
Beers had to drive out Dingaan and his follow
ers at the muzzles Of elephant guns. Yet these
things will come TO pass The Pretoria Govern
ment may set itself against the march of prog
ress, as it is doing; and instead Of granting con-
cesslons and reforms, as it promised. may make
its regulations Of foreigners still more Onerous
and humiliatlng. The Boers-Or some Of them
all through the Cape may try to rouse wal
of races and look to Germany for aid. 1t viii
not avail. The imperial dream of British dom
nance from the Cape to the Zambesi and TO thu
Lakes is nearing assured fulnlment, and will