A good deal is being said, just now in regard
to the possi- bility of fixing a definite date for the conferring of self- government on the new Colonies. As our readers may remember, at the beginning of the war we several times advocated the fixing of a definite period—say five or six years—with the proviso, of course, that the period might be prolonged in case of grave dangers to the Empire. The Boers would be more likely to settle down if they knew that their de- privation of political rights would not be for an indefinite time. But though we still believe that the naming of such a period would be the wisest course, we cannot conceal from ourselves that the mad violence of the Pro-Boers has made the adoption of the plan very difficult. The Government are afraid of com- mitting themselves to any definite scheme for fear that, if some unforeseen circumstance should oblige them to modify it, they would be denounced as pledge-breakers, and the Boers encouraged to break into revolt. In truth, the difficulties of the situation .generally have been intensified in the most exasperating way by the tactics of the Pro-Boera. But for the way in which the deeds and intentions of the Government have been misrepresented with, what looks like maliciousness, but which we are quite willing to admit is as a rule merely self-righteous ineptitude, the Government would. find it far easier to get the Boers to consider our conditions in a reason- able spirit.
