On Thursday Sir Alfred Milner made a speech of real
wisdom and statesmanship to a deputation of Nonconformist ministers who had presented him with an address approving of his policy. "Never again" must, he declared, be the motto of all thinking and humane men,—i.e., it would, as we have so often urged, be a crime to make any settlement which left opportunities for another war like the present. But though Sir Alfred Milner was so firm as to the necessity for a complete and thorough settlement, he showed, we are glad to say, a thorough realisation of the fact that we have got to live as fellow-citizens of the Empire with our present foes. "I do not," he said, "wish to join in the prevalent outcry against the fine old virtue of magna- nimity. I believe in it as much as ever I did. There is plenty of room for it in South Africa." We must show it, he went on, by striving to take care that our treatment of those guilty of rebellion, " while characterised by just severity towards the really guilty parties, shall be devoid of any spirit of vindictiveness or race prejudice," and, above all, must show it, " when the dire struggle is over, by proving that they libelled us who said we fought for gold or material advantage." The rights and privileges resolutely claimed by ourselves we are prepared freely to extend to others,—even to those who fought against us, when they are willing loyally to accept them. In other words, we have waged this war neither for gold, nor territory, nor to turn the South African Dutch into Outlanders. If Sir Alfred Milner can maintain iu practice—no easy task, we admit—the principles he has here laid down with such wisdom and statesmanship, the future of South Africa should be prosperous and secure.
