The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-04-27
THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1905
A MISTAKEN POLICY

The British government has adopted
for the Transvaal just such a consti-
tuition as might be expected under the
circumstances. 1t is not illiberaI in it's
terms. Considering the fact that the
people of the South African republics
were conquered in war and at the
mercy of the victor, the large measure
of self-government granted to them
may be surprise to many people. 1t
is only the English and the American
mind which can grasp the idea that
generosity may be the best policy. 1t
is probably true that, taking the people
as whole, they will enjoy more real
self-government than they did under
the narrow and oligarchic rule of the
BOer states
Nevertheless, this new constitution is
profoundly unsatisfactory to the Boer
leaders and to the great body of that
people in South Africa. They have
enjoyed the sweets of power in the
past. They believed themselves en-
titled to complete independence and
fought nobly for it. They know that
they proved themselves, man for man,
the equal of their masters in the field.
They have construed the terms of the
peace that was made to mean a full
measure of self-government Against
the restrictions and limitations placed
1t seems to us that Great Britain
might have learned a lesson by turn
ing leaf in the history of the United
States. Colonial Secretary Lyttelton,
In communicating the changes con-
templated, says: THE matter involves
party government and this In the
Transvaal will become more practical
BILE when the two races have acted
longer together under equal rights of
citizenship and when bitter memories
have become softened by time" This
Is natural opinion, and one that a
man would naturally hold if he takes
a5superficial view. In our Judgment 1t
would be better to attack the problem
in. front, and to deal with it boldly and
bravely opce for all.
V Conditions 1in South Africa are not
,dissinli1arafet those in the southern
astetesrJRst safter the close of the civil
war. Ine both cases a brave people
have been conquered; and, refusing to
deny or reIinquish the ideas they held.
have admitted the sovereignty of the
victor LoeRing back forty years we
can see row how UNNECESSARILY better
1T would have been for this country
had a larger measure of confidence
been reposed in the people of the south.
aud as1arger freedom of action been
granted to them. Under the lead of
the brave men just returned from the
field, their action would have been
honorable and their local problems
would not have become fostering sores.
eHEder the course pursued Of keeping
them in tutelage, we had ten years of
mutlny and local Instruction, ten more
of the restoration of local self-govern-
ment, and not until after the Lapse of
asthird ten years did feeling begin to
subside and real unity obtain.
The South African patriots are COM
petent to administer a state. They
would conduct local government
with intelligence, and with command
OF the entire sympathy of the people.
No actual movement against British
authority could for moment be fear
ed, because These people are acting in
good faith, have accepted their condi.
tions and have learned their lesson. 1t