Evening star., 1921-02-21
Editorial Digest
The South African Election.

Notwithstanding the great physical
distance between South Africa and
the United States, the American press
finds much of interest and Importance
in the elections recently held there,
which resulted in the defeat of a
secessionist movement. A touch of
romance entering into the situation
appeals to many writer's, who point
out that the leader of the victorious
fight for loyalty to the British empire
was as splendid an opponent of that
empire during the Boer war. less than
twenty years ago. But of greater i'm
portance than the personal victory
of Gen. Jan Smuts, as the press views S
it, is the decisive defeat of threatened
disintegration within the empire.
which is interpreted here as COM
plete vindication of British colonial
policies.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer (inde-
pendent democratic) feels that Great
Britain breatheS more freely in the
knowledge that a South African prob
already long list of unsolved or un-
solvable problems of empire" That
the danger was great is generally
conceded. The Wilmington IN. c.
Star (democratic) believes that the
situation at the time of the election
do II auSnt Win profound peril TO
the empire since, to quote the Ell
Paso Times (democratic). victory of
the opposition might have meant the
beginning of it's disintegration." How
ever. through the personal triumph
of Gen. Smuts. who. the Butte (Mont)
Post (republican) recalls, lis the man
who is credited chiefly with the au-
thorship of the league covenant" The
danger is now removed, and. for the
present at least" as the St Paul Pho
neer Press independently says, "the
specter of secession in South Africa
will not haunt the chancellery at
London"
Aside from the issues involved. the
Chicago Journal (democratic) believes
that there will be wide rejoicing "at
the victory of Smuts." who after an
amazing career now shares with
Lloyd George the distinction which
belongs to the two allied leaders who
have not been swept aside by post %
war discontent." To this the Rocky
Mountain News Denver, independently
adds that che is one of the big mem
of Britain. and sit is on such men that
it must depend" The Chicago Post
independently agrees that Jan SHUTS
victory will be a bitter disappoint-
ment to those who make their daily
prayer for the disruption of the Brit
iSh commonwealth"
Influences hostile to the empire have
been trying. to spread dissension
throughout the South African Union.
the Los Angeles Times (independent
republican, points out, and in their
defeat greater victory is won than
in any or all the battles of the Roer
war" The election results furnish a
sharp answer, in the opinion of the
Kansas City Star independently ito
those who have been loud in proclaim =
ing" that King Georges colonies are
"A string of trading posts held in un-
willing bondage by Lombard street.
and that free expression of the will
OF the people would dissolve the whole
system
AS the Providence Journal Gnde-
pendenD interprets the election it
was just such "a free expression"
which. however. resulted in strength
ening the empire instead of dissolVing
1t. The whole affair is viewed by the
Adrian (MichigaD Telegram (inde-
pendenO 'aS striking proof of the
genuineness of self-government in
British dominions and the slight au-
thority that England exercises over
them" showing that the botd that
OF moral forces, sentiment and mutual
advantage"
In the opinion of the Wall Street
journal independently there are good
and compelling reasons why the junior
partners in the worlds greatest GO
ih5 SoiiceTi 10 not pun out 10 set up
IN business for themselves" since lin
all relations with great foreign pow
ers' they are in IAN incompa raj bly,
stronger position now than they
would be if they We're independent"
1t is significant. however, as a num-
Der of writer's admit. that a movement
for secession could have grown so
strong as to create danger This
is explained in part by the Manches-
ter Union Independent republican,
thus: What is taking place is the
growing up OF 'Britain's children and
their passing from union through h
control to union of mature wills on a
basis OF Cooperation. South Africa,
like her sisters. will insist upon the
larger liberty of maturity shortly.
and will receive it. Out of it all. we
think, will come a British empire
greater and richer in the higher val
ues of allegiance and interest rooted
in the living. throbbing devotion of
a significant life for which is it's own -