The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-11-06
GOING TO SOUTH AFRICA.

The Sprinfield Mass Republican dis
cussing Mr. Chamberlain visit to South
| Africa says: "Mr. Chamberlain's forth
coming visit to South Africa, while ex-
cellent in many respects, is still a severe
blow in certain sense to the man on
the-spot theory. The trip shows that
Mr.. Chamberlain wishes to see things
for himself, and thus it mast diacredit
20 g large degree the prestige and author
ity of Lord Miner, who has been the
British goyernmsn direct representa-
tive in South Africa for about five years.
Lord Miner all that time has been the
man on the spot, and it is the teaching
of the theory that the advice given the
people and the government at home by
the man who knows things, or is sup
posed to know things, at first hand,
should always be accepted without ques-
ton. Miners advice, one might say
his passionate advice, was one of the
strongest influences which led England
into the war with the Beers. Upon his
dispatches the imperial cabinet relied.
so long ~ the period of conflict endured
He was the one official who's knowledge
and whose judgment were necessarily
80 far superior to the knowledge and
Judgment of everybody else that they
must be followed by doubters every
where.
1T il remarkable that ~ soon as the
war ended the man-on-.he spot theory
began to crumbls, 80 far rs Mr. Cham
berlain was concerned. The Judgment
of Lord Miner suddenly lost its infalli-
BILE quality. Miner, it will be recalled,
after peace was declared, urged the in
definite suspension of constitutional
government in Cape Colony with as
much earnestness and positiveness AZ
before the war he had urged strong
policy in dealing with the Transvaal
| Beers. He was still the man on the
spot: vet Mr.. Chamberlain now declined
to accept his Judgment and constitu-
tional government in Cape Colony was
resumed, in direct opposition to Lord
in which the colonial secretary in Lon
don distrusted the opinion of the ad-
ministrator who was on the scene thou
sands OF miles away And now, in
going to South Africa himself, Mr..
Chamberlain again indicates that he
hasn't the most absolute confidence in
the Judgment Of the imperial governor
of his majesty's newly cong cred terri
| tories 1t seems evident that Mr.. Cham
berain has never accep ed the man-on-
thespot theory without reservations.
SO long ~ Lord Miner was bent on n
policy of war and conquest, Mr.. Cham.
berlain thought u great deal of his
views, and quoted them freely to other
people bat that was because Mr.. Cham
berlain had the same policy. As soon
as the conquest had been completed, the
two men began to diverge in their
views and, of course, Mr.. Chamberlain 5
Judgment prevailed when the clash
came
There was never better illustration
Of the possible wrong headedness of an
administrator Of a colony than that Of
q ov. Hutchinson of Massachusetts,
Hutchinson, who lived in the center of
'disaifection, as Lecky saws and who
ought to have known the New England
character as well M any man, predicted
that the people Of America would not
attempt to resist British army and
that If they did few troops would be
sufficient to quell them. His opinion
appears to have had considerable weight
with George III and geatly strengthen
ed him in determination to coerce
Miners counsel has had no such lisas
trous results M Gov. Hutchinson
South Africa has not AZ yet been los
to the British crown, although the EN-