To each of these questions the only possible answer is
"No." The echo of Liberal principles had no such prevent- ive effect, and yet we are asked to believe that it would abso- lutely have prevented the Jameson Raid. For our part, we believe that Mr. Rhodes would have entered even more light- heartedly on the Jameson Raid if 'the Liberal party had been in power. The Unionist party, no doubt, has grave responsibili- ties of its own in regard tothe toleration of Mr. Rhodes's power and influence, but the attempt to make it solely, or even chiefly, responsible for him and his doings is a monstrous perversion of the truth, and shall never be passed over by us without protest. But though it is abiurd to say that there would have been no Raid if the Liberals had been in power in 1896, it is by no means absurd to say that if the Liberal Ministry had not patronised Mr. Rhodes as they did between 1892 and 1895, he would never have obtained the power and influence in South Africa which made him dare to organise the Raid.
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