Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-15
souTu AFRICAN CONFEDERATION

respond quickly and easily 70 'hs ne.''
stiles OF business.
| ----------------------
SOUTH AFRICAN CONFEDERATION
Aside from the unavoidable conclusion
10 be drawn from the speeches OF LORD
! salisbury and Mr.. Chamberlain as 10 t"e
fate OF the Transvaal and the oransc
| Free state. what that fate VIII DC Is
! foreshadowed from other directions Nol
! the least safe basis for forecast'ng the
| end is found in the discussion Vi inc
I south African question, that Is largely
monopolizing the British magazines In
no other country in the world is .ne
( calm. steady drift of local public OPINION
| so well reflected in its more solid maga-
zine literature. and so seriously dlges'eu
I before II IS reflected, as In Great Britain
II is due TO this. II has been frequently
/ asserted, that the average British perl
odical is so heavy"
While here and there we have a ten
tative assertion that the British are
fighting only for equal rights Of citizen
ship for the Uitlanders IN the Transvaal
and the redress of the grievances set
forth in the latter's petition of some
time back and in the same tentative
fashion it is assumed, rather than claim
ed. that there is no intention Of inter-
fering with Boer autonomy, the general
f-Tc7fment q the issue shows that such
a thing as Boer power in Africa IS DOOM
ed. For the far greater part the
British magazines agree that the "wisest
settlement of the South African pro-
blem would be the formation of a con-
federation under British supremacy.
And it is interesting TO note that this
is but barking back to a scheme OF many
years ago-a scheme which was dis
credited at the period of its broaching by
the home government. but later found
favor and was shaping TO a oonsumma-
ton when Mr.. Gladstone lost his nerve,
after Majuba Hill.
Some four decades since one Of the
governors Of Cape Colony became con-
WINGED that the only remedy for the con-
ditions existing in the civilized part of
that quarter Of the globe was fedora
ton, and one result of his agitation OF
state made overtures for federation.
This was four years after the convention
Of 1854, which established the Free State
republic. Yet the home authorities not
only declined to consider the overture,
but censured the Governor for bringing
the matter 10 the favorable attention Of
the Cape Parliament. Subsequently, the
Imperial Government changed its view,
and a bill passed the British Parliament
permitting federation, provided the colo
MES so desired. This permission still
held good when, in 1877. the Transvaal
was annexed, and the very conditions
that led to that act were stimulating the
federation sentiment. In 1880, however,
the BOer war occurred the flame OF racial
hatred again burst forth and the Grand
Old Man, by accepting the humiliation
of Great Britain and turning the Trans
vaal over to the Beers, effectually check
ed the progress of the federation move
ment. His timidity. his percipitate
surrender after a disaster TO British
arms that could easily have been re-
tHeved, not only had the effect of putting
up the Transvaal Beers with q false
idea Of their own strength and Great
Britain's weakness, but, as developments
have proved. it had a similar influence
upon the Beers of the Orange Free State.
Moreover, Il fostered a disposition 10 be
oyerbearing and give trouble, politically
and otherwise, among the Dutch element
OF Cape Colony.
Nevertheless, It is now clear that the
movement was not dead. It is clear that
it fingered as a fixed policy in the British
public mind, awaiting only a propitious
opportunity to reassert activity, and
reach out TO material results. And events
have conspired to render the opportunity
moro propitious than was expected when
the Transvaal war cloud first appeared
in the sky. The action of the Orange
Free State in making common cause with
Kruger and his followers has saved
Great Britain the trouble Of taking two
"btes at a cherry" In the matter Of
bringing under her dominion all who
stand In the path of clean territorial
sweep from Cape TO Cairo. 1t was a
challenge to her TO strike for the carry
ing out of such a policy. 1t played into
the hands Of Cecil Rhodes and Chamber
lain, rallied to their support the old fede-
rationists, and won many new and
powerful converts to the faith. Yes,
apart from anything Salisbury or Cham
berlain have said, there is hardly a doubt
that tho end OF the war will be a con-
federation of the colonies and the two
States that are in arms, which means
the absolute wping out of the Boer as
power and an influence in the conduct
of South African affairs. He will be
given equal rights Of citizenship, but at
the same time be "benevolenty assimi-
lated" to such an extent that he Will
count for nothing in determining the
course of the history of the Dark Conti-
neni.
----=---