New-York tribune., 1906-12-16
A GREAT PRO-CONSUL.
Lord Miners York after the
Jameson Raid.
London. November IS.


shattered by the arduous labors and unceasins
anxieties Of eight years; for he had not only
been a prodigtous worker. but he had also taken
his worries TO bed with him and lost his sleep
fatal indscretion. The processes OF recupera-
tion have been slow but sure. and the fndigna-
tion excited by attacks upon him In the Com
mons has been wholesome tonic for a cour-
ageous and hopeful spirit. He has been a silent
spectator since his retirement from Pretoria.
but he is coming ont of the background ana
seems likely to be once more a conspicuous fig
f,re in public life. The speeches which he is TO
make I'm Manchester and Wolverhampton are
awaited with eager interest on the Conservative
side where the lack OF authoritative leadership
IS generally recognized. Mr.. Balfour's prestige
has never been regained since the catastrophe Of
the general elections; Mr.. ChaInberlain's health
is apparently hopelessly impaired despite the
constant contradictions from Highbury; and
neither Mr.. Long. Mr. Wyndham nor Mr..
Bonar Law rises TO the full stature OF leadership
IN the Commons Lord Lansdowne does in the
upper house. Conservatives in their hours OF
depression are longing for the appearance Of a
new leader who viii be at once progressive
Imperialist and a practical fiscal reformer. They
have glanced alternately at the two great vice
roys or pro-consuls Of the last decade, Lord
Curzon and Lord AIilner. Each is a Briton of the
first magnitude in the Imperial heavens Lord
I q
known but he is credited with being Free
Trader. Lord Miner IS a convinced tariff re-
former and OF the most experienced finan-
ciers in the kingdom. No other public man is so
well qualified for taking up Mr.. Chamberlain's
two main causes-imperial federation and fiscal
reforrn-and working them out with practical
intelligence. 1t viii be a political event if he
breaks new ground either OF these questions
ct Manchester or in the Midlands.
In the mean time Lord Miners work in South
Africa has been reviewed by painstaking in
vestiga1or. Mr.. Basil Worsfold in an admirable
volume published by Mr.. Murray. 1t is doubtful
II sufficient time has elapsed since the Jameson
raid and the Boer war TO enable the most ju-
dicious observer to obtain the true. historic per-
epective OF his services TO the empire. Mr.
Worsfold Is not. however, an offensive partisan,
bent upon glorifyng his hero with undscriminat-
ing adulation. He is an accomplished Journal
ist, who knows his subject by virtue of two pro-
tracted terms Of residence IN South Africa an
exhaustive study Of official information and init
mate acquaintance with the principal actors fn
this imperial drama; and he has done his work
in high minded way. with a moral purpose of
his own higher than that OF filling out and illu-
minating the silhouette drawn by Lord Goschen
and adopted the motto Of the book What
would have been the position to-day in South
Africa If there had not been a man prepared 10
take upon himself responsibility: man whom
difficulties could not conquer. whom disasters
could not COW. and whom obloquy could never
rnove?" That glowing eulog1um is fully justified
by the career of Lord Miner from his appofnt-
ment as High Commissioner 10 the peace of
Vereengfng. with which Mr.. worsfolds labors
close. Yet the issue which has supreme interest
for him is Tho creation OF an administrative
council in which all parts of the empire VIII be
df1lr- II
which the colonies collectively performed in the
struggle to keep South Africa among the impe-
rial possessions was great but that il would have
been infinitely greater if they had been direttly
represented in an administration nominally COM
mon to them and the mother country" He
brings out this issue in sharp relief by relating
The disastrous consequences Of the recall of Sir
Barte Frere and the government OF Smith
Africa, not 10y the pro-consul on the spot IA
miar with questions to be decided blt b,,
Downing Street and the House Of Commons. II
becomes even bolder when he shows that after
the decline Of imperial influence under Lord
Loch and Lord Rosmead, Lord Miner WA.
nigh commissioner who understood what was
going on around him and was allowed IN ,,o,oe
The convictions and aspirations of loysl gubiects
of the crown
American readers can hardly be expected =,
take much interest in the movement oF +bA
<ANihdliner Natlonalists, the negotiations with
president Kruger, the Boer war and rebellion
IN cape colony, conciliation. disarmament and
other preparations for peace. Their attention
may be held by Mr.. Worsfold's account or III.
Jameson raid, which has generally been re-
safoed as the cause Of the Boer war but ,,bic,
ne prefers TO describe a connecting link he
tween Tie High Commissionerships of Sir Bartle
frere ana Lord Miner. Sir Patrick Percy FYtz
Palrlck IN The Transvaal from Within was .o
intent upon Vindicating the mine owning con
spirators Of johannesburg from the CHARGE op
funkinG' that he left Mr. Rhodes and Dr
Jameson in the air, a man of r1vster,, WHOSE
purposes were inscrutable. and the other ar .a
venturer dreaming Of Give The raid haco,oas
more Ineligible when Mr.. Worsfold exnIains -
He does not reveal all the secrets but man, ..
them Beginning with the elimination az the
imperial factor by making Cape Colony as inde
pendent as possible OF Downing Street Mr.
Rhodes had ended with an alliance with the
mining and industrial corporations of tbe Rapd
as instruments more appropriate than the local
governments for strengthening the British hold
upon South Africa. The raid was "a short cut
10 battle German intrigue and solve the prohIen
or South African unity at one blow" II WAS
planned in order to effect the enfranchisement Of
the Gitlanders and the conversion of the Trans
Vaai 10 Mr.. Rhodes's scheme Of commercial
federauon. Its success did not depend upon the
victory or the troopers reinforced by the Iritland
ers. but upon the presence of the High Commits
sioner IN the Transvaal under such conditions
as would make imperial Intervention at once i'm.
perative and effectual The plan had heen
i"iAleo AT johannesburg, and arms had been
smpped Tor the outbreak: the troopers had been
esna