LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE SUSPENSION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF CAPE COLONY.
(To TER EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR." I Srn,—I venture to hope that the influence of your powerful advocacy will be given in support of what many who live here feel to be the only satisfactory solution of the troubles of this distressed country. I refer to the suspension for a few years, say five, of the Constitution. We have to face the fact, how- ever distasteful, that two-thirds of the inhabitants of Cape Colony are bitterly hostile to any government of this country by Englishmen. The aims of this majority are entirely different from ours. Their treatment of the labour question is essentially and radically diverse, and their one ruling pas- sion is embodied in the cry of "Africa for the Afrikanders," and the restoration of the whole land to Dutch control. For this they have steadily worked for the last twenty years, and if people at home imagine that the adverse result of the war will cause an abandonment of this hope they are making a grievous mistake. So far from the Dutch being cowed by defeat, they have learnt that a commando of five hundred men can successfully evade ten thousand for months, and dodge in and out of the kloofs and kopjes in perfect security ; and since our lines of communication are bound to be thin enough for them to break• at places, they can supply them- selves in this way with ammunition and remounts at will. To a people who are boiling over with hatred against us it is proposed, on the expiration of martial law, to surrender the reins of government, and, as a • crowning act of folly, actually to place the control of all troops in the Colony under a Prime Minister elected by those who are only awaiting the first opportunity to throW 'off the yoke. We have only to look back upon the history of the Colony since the second invasion—of January this year—to realise the difficulties which face the loyalists of the Western Province and Mid- lands. The great majority of the farmers secretly sympa- thise with our enemies, and furtively form a most excellent intelligence department for the Boer and rebel commandos; and the recent surrenders of district mounted troops in Somerset East and Albany to bodies of less than half their number surely form an object-lesson which it would be mad- ness to disregard. I am well aware that it is hoped, by redistribution of seats, by that dangerous expedient of a large extension of the franchise to natives, and by stationing irregular troops who are voters in disaffected constituencies, to jockey this majority out of their just rule. This dis- honourable scheme emanates from Mr. Rhodes, and is one more explanation of that growing sense of distrust which many who were formerly his admirers are beginning to feel. If the Constitution remains, every care will be taken to secure a Progressive Government for the first election, and this means either that gentleman's nominal leadership, or his virtual rule through the Prime Minister. But the majority will assert itself in course of time, and when this becomes imminent, who could trust " the Great Amal- gamator" and the man who has openly declared that he is "against Downing Street administration in every shape and form" to remain loyal to the interests of the Mother- country ? A residence of twelve years in this Colony has convinced me of two things :—First, that the class of needy attorneys, successful publicans, Government contractors, and boodle-hunters who form our two Houses of _Legislature are for untrustworthiness without parallel outside Tammany Hall. Each man here goes into Parliament to grindhis own axe, and I think it is doubtful whether there were as many as ten seats secured at the last election which (except in the case sof Bond nominees, who in most rural districts are practically unopposed) were not bought by the most shame- less corruption. From such men we shall never get a just and righteous rule. Speaking broadly and with a full recognition of many exceptions, especially among the descendants of the 1820 settlers in the Eastern Province, I venture to say that this "land of lies" does not as yet possess the class of people from whom to choose high-minded statesmen and men of sufficient culture, ability, and integrity to bear rule. And secondly, I have learnt that the Dutch are a people that can wait. They are consoling themselves now for the failure of their present attempt to turn us out of the country with their national proverb, " There is to-morrow." This unde- niable hatred of us is of no recent growth, and many long years of stable government must control this country before we can afford to disregard it. When the balance of popula- tion has shifted to our side, and when the majority of English who come here begin to look upon this land as a home and not as a mere field for financial speculation, responsible government may be returned. But I believe at present that nine out of every ten Cape Colonists of English descent who are neither in office nor are seeking it will agree with me that to be governed by the direct rule of the Crown is our only chance for safe progress at present.—I am, Sir, &c.,
St. James's Rectory, Graaf Beinet.
d. H. CARTES.
(We publish our correspondent's able letter, but we cannot agree with its general conclusions. We regard self-govern- ment as the greatest of political anodynes, and would by no means withhold it. After the rebellion the nnwisdom of con- ferring self-government on the Southern States was strongly urged, but it was conferred after a reasonable period of military and semi-military rule, and with success. We do not want to gerrymander, but we cannot see why there should not be a fair distribution of electoral power. Why should a townsman not get his fair share of representation ? we should unhesitatingly disfranchise all proved rebels, and in some cases rebel districts. We need not say that we sympathise with our correspondent's views as to Mr. Rhodos, but if the British in South Africa insist on making him a hero, they can only be made to realise their mistake by experiencing the results.—ED. Spectator.]
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