One hundred years ago
A REUTER'S telegram from Kimber- ley received on Tuesday gives an account of an interesting speech deli- vered by Mr. Cecil Rhodes, the Cape Premier, at a banquet given him on his return from his Parliamentary duties. His Government, he said, would do all in their power to draw closer the ties between the Cape and the neighbouring States. 'It was customary to speak of a United South Africa as being in the near future. If they meant complete union with the same flag, he saw very serious difficulties. When he spoke of a South African Union, he meant that they might attain to perfect Free-trade as regards their own commodities, a perfect and complete railway com- munication, and a general Customs Union stretching from Delagoa Bay to Walfish Bay; and if their statesmen should attain to that, they would have done a good work, and they would have each State trusting to its own flag and having respect for each other's flag. The question of flag might be settled in the future; but if it was not, and they obtained the points mentioned, they might be well satisfied, and call that a Union of South Africa.' These words show clearly that Mr. Rhodes is one of those statesmen who look to the subst- ance and not to the form in political arrangements.
The Spectator, 4 October 1890
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