On Tuesday, a telegram was published from Cape Town stating
that Sir Henry Loch, under orders from England, bad informed Mr. Rhodes that the settlement of the Mate.bele question had been entrusted to himself alone. Furious com- ments were made on this, the idea being that Lord Ripon, in the interest of the savages, had superseded Mr. Rhodes, and intended to let Lobengula off. On the following morning, therefore, it was explained, through Renter's agency, that no changes had occurred; that the Chartered Company remained responsible for operations ; but that, in the event of their success, the Colonial Office must insist on a voice in concert with the Chartered Company in making the terms of peace. We do not see, we confess, what less than this a Minister responsible to Parliament could do. Nobody doubts Mr. Rhodes's ability or good fortune, though a great many doubt his singleness of purpose ; but the Crown cannot leave a com- mercial company or its agent to make peace or war at its own discretion. Such a power was never confided, after Pitt became Premier, even to the East India Company ; and the delegation of such a. right is beyond the power even of Parliament. No foreign State would recognise the delegated authority. Lord Ripon may be too much inclined to pity marauding savages; but the right and obligation of the State to decide on their treatment is past question.
