Evening star., 1909-06-06

human control He stated the cass
from the Boer point OF view, in order TO |
show that British action, however rea-
sonable and automatic led to friction |
and alienation.
The speaker concluded by saying that
they were standing on the threshold
of an open door; that South Africa. after
a long period of pickering, eliminating in
bloodshed, had found its salvation under
the folds OF the British flag.
From October Il, 19oS. to February z, |
1909. the question of union was discussed
In the four provinces between the Dutch |
and the British. Gen. De Wet said:
For years South Africa has been like
man trying to walk on one leg while
he possessed two"
Sir Lewis Michel. not content with his
paper before the Colonial Institute, de-
velops 1t in the Empire Review He
passes in panoramic review the various
scenes which have happened in the South
African evolution: The discovery of dia-
Frere in 1875 the annexation of the
Transvaal in 1877. the destruction OF the
Zulu power In 1879, the rising OF the
Beers In 1881. the patriotic period of
Kruger. the discovery of gold. Cecil
Rhodes, DR.. Jameson and the Proconsul
Miner. A great war was the result. !
which ended by the peace of Vereeniging.
The gallant and stubborn Boer was ex-
hausted rather than conquered. a condi-
ton which favored a rapproachment be-
The concession OF responsible govern
ment to such brave foe was easy, and
this has been expressed
Generous in the treaty. 1t was a
step which was decried
by some statesmen who
thought 1t a dangerous experiment. but
quished are living amicably side by side.
and the cry of closer union" in mutual
interests has been heard from the van
qushed more persistently than from the
victor who has not been without some
doubts of his strong adversary. Was
there not some trap?
The first assembly to take up the mat
ter met in the borough council chamber
in the town hall Of Durham. October IL,
1908 After heightened discussion the
convention adjourned in December to
Cape Town, where a drafting commit
tee" consisting Of one representative of
each colony. was formed to draft con-
stitution.
In January complete declaration was
submitted, the result of studies made Of
the act Of union between England and
Scotland. the Constitution of the United
States and of the Swiss federal union
and of the German empire.
Another writer in the Empire Review
has an article on South Africa-Mr.
Henry Samuel. He does not argue the
question OF union or federation. but
leaves that to Olive Schreiner in her
booklet Closer Union" in which she
advances cogent reasons why fedora
tfon should have been preferred to
union. The author declares that the
convention found it possible to reach
arrangement only on the basis Of
union and that to urge the desirability
Of federation was to "fog a dead
horse
The author does not believe that the
union Of Boer and Briton may be per-
feet until they are both mutually In
terested in the cultivation of the soil
The Boer is an agriculturist, while the
British settler is a miner, a mechanic.
an artisan, tradesman-at all events
a townSman.
Men who fought on the British side
settled on the land provided for them
under the settlement
British schemes. They could not
raise the money to cul-
GAoous' tivate their farms ex-
cept through trust companies and
money lenders. Forty thousand left
the country in four years. The exodus
pleased the Boer. The ballot then gave
success where the bullet failed.
Germany. the author suggests. teaches
a lesson. Damaraland and Namaqua-
land are not regarded as fairylands.
yet Germany. for all her supposed
financial straits, voted lump sum of
eight millions sterling for their devel-
opment.
There was a blank left in the draft
constitution act which the committee
was unable to fill-the question of the
site of the union capital. 1t gave place
To a ca "
preached with being at the shank of
the country. accessible to foreign at
tack and out Of touch with the great
mining Industry sleepy old world
corner, founded not by Van Riebeek
but by Rip Van Winkle.
The advocates Of the cape pleaded Its
historical position. its long parliament
tary experience. it's success in native
administration. Its preponderance IN
geographical area and white popula-
ton. It's temperate climate and che
unique site of Cape Town.
The opponents opposed its lack of CEN
trality. The Transvaal, on the contrary,
was rich and in the center Of the union.
There was disagreement. and the subject
was submitted to the prime minister,
who could not decide. Finally 1t was re-
ferred to the president of the convention
and to two prime minister's and these de-
cided that Cape Town should be the seat
of the legislature and Pretoria the seat
of the executive.
Mr.. Samuel declares the decision alb
surd. Imagine the plight, he asks, of a
minister interrogated on some urgent
point Of policy with all his documents
1000 miles away!
The author suggests compromise; he
would recommend the neighborhood of
Fourteen Streams sit
Compromise uated on the borders of
the Transvaal. the Or
proposed. ange River Colony. Cape
Colony and Bechuanaland, and thirty
miles west of Kimberly. 1t presents ad-
vantages, besides, of being midway be-
tween the two oceans and quite near the
joint British and German railways which
will be constructed. There is space there
to found city unmatched in the world
for dignity and beauty of plan.
Mr.. Michel reviewing the work of the
convention, says: Il believe we have
builded better than we knew, and that
we have well and truly laid the founda-
tions of dominion which will gradually
become one of the most fourishing por-
tions Of the empire"
The constitution as revised will be re-
turned to the parliaments OF the four
states from which 1t emanated for ap-
proval. At Natal 1t will he submitted to
referendum. Then. IL sanctioned. a dele
cation headed by Gen. Botha will take 1t
to London for definite approval and sigma
ture. South Africa will then assume the
nd Gf9 nf