The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-05
BY J. N. EGAN.

BY J. M. EGAN.
 Johnannesburg, Dec 4.-South Africa has more politicians to the square
 mile than any other part of the Rri- tish Empire. If 1t does not breed
 many statesmen. it at least produces host of men who are convinced that far-seeing Providence intended them to be members oh Parliament. It grows politicians as easily as meales
 The stranger travelling from Cape town to the Victoria Falls finds him self involved in a political argument l,s00 miles long. Everybody has views. Nobody has views which quite coicide with anybody else's. And everybody is inspired by a deep de- sire to convince some harmless strang- CT that he alone is right and several hundred thousand other politicians are hopelessly wrong.
 The farmer sitting on his stoop, the mining magnate in his office the clerk drinking his eleven o'clock cup of tea. the trader lounging in the back-veldt kaffir-one and all are willing to lay down their several tasks at mom- ent's notice and indulge in the luxury of an endless political debate. But the whole tribe of politicians Is sofely troubles do. None can tell who the div istons will be at the first general elec- tion for the Union Parliament next year.
 The position Is this. federated south. Africa comes into being on June l. 1910. On that date a Union Cabf- net be ready. As soon after that date as the constituencies can get them- selves limited there will be the first general election. obiously poll tical parties must be formed, But what will the parties be? This Is the point at which the politicians stick. Programs do not matter much because all the program of all the parties contain the same platitudes. Per- sonaHties are more important because many people prefer a leader to a prin- ctple. Most important of all Is 1t to know what the parties are likely to be. And upon this matter all South Africa waits anxiously for lead.
 Is the country to have the old parties. which. under thing disguise and despite a few exceptions. really mean British versus Dutch7 Or will there be Young South Africa Party formed of the progressive leaders of both races, prepared to do battle with Do Nottingham of the Hofmeyrs and the Hertsogs of the four Colonies? Shall the division ultimately be be- tween Coast and Inland. or that High Protection will be ranged against Low Protection. or agriculture enter the lists against mining. or a White Labor Party vigorously oppose those who believe that the provision of an ample supply of colored labor ought to be the beginning and the end of South African administration?
 At the moment none can say. It is difficult enough to suggest what will happen; South African politics are so purely South African. They are com pHcated by conditions which exist here alone. It Is impossible to say that because Macdonald and Brown did such anj-such a thing in Canada, and Bar ton and Deakin adopted such-and- such a course in Australia. therefore South Africa is likely to do so-and-so For assuredly South Africa would do nothing of the kind.
 The oretically the most obvious course is to have a Coalition Ministry representing both white races and all four Colonies. Union provides South Africa with clean slate-Heaven knows she has needed it badly en- ough. Are they going at once to write upon it all the old battle cries? The essential thing in South Africa today Is to place the new machinery of government on a firm foundation