The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-01
The Union OF the South African Col
OnieS.

On Monday the House of Commons
unanimously passed the second read
ing of the South African Constitution
bill, after an explanatory speech by
ex-Premier Balfour This action of
the Commons marks, in effect, the
successful conclusion Of the efforts OF
South African statesmen to promote
the prosperity of their respective
countries by uniting to form a pow
erful commonwealth. A remarkable
feature of the situation is the unani-
nifty with which Beers and English
cooperate. Less than a decade ago
there was a state of war, feeling was
bitter and the prospect of union
seemed very remote. Now we have
Prime Minister Botha, of the Trans
vaal, and eX-President Steyn, of the
Orange River Colony, working har-
moniously in London with Prime
Minister Moor of Natal, and EXPIRE
miers Jameson and Schreiner of Cape
Colony, to induce the Parliament and
Government Of Great Britain and Ire
land to sanction the draft act "for
the constitutional union" of the va
riOus colonies in South Africa. Cen
eral Botha and eX-President Steyn.
once accounted irreconcilables, have
abandoned their programme of in
dependence and separation and are
content to be and remain loyai sub
jects of Edward VII. They expect.
no doubt, the Boer element 10 pre-
dominate in the new British com
monwealth of South Africa, but they
exhibit such q spirit of fairness that
the large English element IN Johan-
nesburg, Cape Town and Durham is
equally eager for the union.
The magnanimity or wisdom Of
the British Government in giving mil
lions after the war for the restoration
Of prosperity in the Boer colonies and
in granting constitutional government
soon after the last gun was fired
seems to have won the confidence .of
the Boer leaders. They accept the
view that Kruger's anti-British policy
was glorious but mistaken, and that
the welfare of all South Africa will
be best secured by virtual independ-
ence under the British flag. Union
will give South Africa a position like
that of the Dominion Of Canada or
the Commonwealth of Australia
position of such responsibility ana
power that British Ministers in Lon
don Will no longer interfere in the
local affairs of the colonists.
1t ise this prospect Of freedom from
peSuterous interferences from Lon
Compounded by the eXegencies of
English politics-that has converted
ne mineowners Of Johannesburg and
the planters of Natal to the idea Of
union, even though they knew that
their quondam enemies, the Beers.
would dominate the Union The Brit
lsh Givernments order, for example.
requiring the $4,000 Chinese in the
johannesburg gold mines 60 be re-
turned to China, in accordance with
ante-clection promises. convinced the
mneoWners that their industry could
not prosper while subject TO the ca
prices of outsiders, who really knew
ana cared nothing about the actual
conditions in the mines. \ Corscr-
vative administration in London
meant one set of policies ana meas
ureS IN the subject colonies. and
Liberal administration meant another
and different set. The irrational
change from one to another spelled
business disaster Union according
ly was desirable to both English and
Beers in South Africa, as a means OF
securing stable conditions and pro-
gressive prosperity.