On Tuesday Sir Alfred Milner and President Kruger arrived at
Bloemfontein, and on Wednesdaythe first meeting of the Conference took place for settlement of preliminaries. The proceedings are to be strictly private. Mr. Fischer, a Free State Councillor, is to act as interpreter. He is to sit at the head of the table, with Sir Alfred Milner and his assistants on the right, and President Kruger and his assistants on the left. It is, therefore, not a round, but a long, table Conference, Those who are interested in the subject of tables and the political significance of their various forms will recall the treatment of the subject in Bacon's essays, and what he tells us of "a long table and a square table, or seats about the walls." "For at a long table a few at the upper end in effect sway all the business, but in the other form there is more use of the counsellors' opinions that it lower." He adds that, though these seem " things of form," they often are "things of substance." It may be added that President Kruger on his arrival declared that he would discuss all questions except the independence of the Republic,—" All, all, all," were his actual words. If this spirit is maintained, the Conference should accomplish much, for no one wants to destroy the independence of the Republic. The great hope is that the President will not let himself be governed by the fatal notion that he cannot extend the franchise because it would be giving votes to his enemies. Such a prepossession of mind means confusion and ruin for South Africa.
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