A more bitter debate on South Africa sprang up on
Wednesday, in which the extreme Radicals obtained their opportunity of denouncing the war. They had, however, little that was new to say, except that they detested Sir Alfred Milner, who has just been appointed Administrator of the Transvaal and the Orange Colony. No specific charge was offered against the High Commissioner, except that the Boers universally distrusted him, but there was a general demand for his recall. To our amazement, Mr. Bryce, who is a considerable historian, if not a statesman, joined in this outcry, and seemed to think it possible that a responsible Government would break the hearts of all its own agents by abandoning the ablest of them because he is unpopular with its opponents. Mr. Brodrick, of course, defended Sir Alfred Milner, but the defence is unnecessary until some definite attack is made. What has Sir A. Milner done except express a distrust of certain Afrikanders, amply justified by their disloyalty, and afford the troops invaluable aid? That the hostile section of the Dutch should dislike a formidable foe is natural, bat to ask the British Government to remove him is a blunder only to be excused by political and party passion.
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