There are signs that the British party in the Transvaal
will follow the path of wisdom, and, loyally accepting the new Constitution, make every effort to win at the coming elections, A speech delivered at Pretoria last week by Sir George Farrar, one of the Progressive leaders, was notable for its common- sense. He urged his followers to give np the idle game of speculating on possible Cabinets, and, above all, to abandon the pessimism which declared that their position was hopeless. It was no use talking about coalitions till the result of the polling was known, and what that result was to be depended upon the electors themselves. The Constitution was not all that they could have wished, but "let them put their backs to the wall like Englishmen," sink their personal differences, and fight as a united British party. There was a clear issue before them, and they must beware of the wrong kind of moderation, which was in reality trimming and truckling to their opponents, political cowardice rather than political wisdom. Finally Sir George Farrar, speaking to a Pretoria audience, appealed to his hearers to forego any jealousy of Johannesburg, and to remember that the interest of the whole British element was the same. Pretoria under the new Con- stitution holds the balance of power, and Sir George Farrar's speech was both well timed and in the main wisely phrased.
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