We cannot leave Tuesday's debate without a word as to
Mr. Robson's excellent speech. Mr. Robson has really taken the trouble to study the facts of the Transvaal luestion, and hence he is not taken in by the false analogies tbont the struggle between George III. and the American Colonies. Specially good was Mr. Robson's pricking of one of the chief bubbles blown by the well-meaning but mis- guided advocates of the Transvaal. They allege that we are fighting for the difference between a seven-year and a five-year franchise. " What the Government demanded, of 3onrse, was a general franchise, but the Act passed merely enabled Boer officials, with the consent of their superiors, n certain rather remarkable and almost impossible cases to ;ive the franchise to such Outlanders as they might happen ,o be personally satisfied with. The conditions imposed were such that it really did not matter whether the period named was one year or ten years." In this view he was confirmed by Mr. Kruger's own statement that he did not mean to give a general franchise to the Outlanders. The offer of a five- year franchise was a delusive offer never intended to be accepted in any substantial sense. " But it gave the Boers time to complete their military preparations." Mr. Robson has put his finger on the real reason for the "terrible mis- understanding" as to our terms.
Previous page
