SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 928, 22 September 1910, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICAN POLITICS.

MERRIMAN MAY REPLACE BOTHA. By Telegraph—Pree3 Association—Copyright. . Cape Town,,. September. 20. . i. Renter's agent at. Pretoria. says there are rumours of a grave crisis in the Union; Cabinet, which may lead to Mr. J.;X. Merriman'(Premier of Cape Colony) 'replacing General Botha.: He adds that Cabinet deliberations will be continued on Wednesday next.,

BOTHA AND THE UNION JACK. ■ The. following' is a'translation.: of the passage'in the.article by "Jan yon Eozenburg," in ( 'De Goede Hoop," .to which, reference was made in the "Cape Times" recently::—:'.'. . .--'; •''■•• "it is, however; to be hoped that our Prime Minister will in future be less inclined to lend his ear to the Jamesons, and will be rather ■ less given to making known' his pride 'in his British fealty. ■The latter is not perhaps (juist geen) a sin, but it scarcely becomes one who was formerly.'. Commandant-General : ■ of ■ the South African Bepnblic. .Involuntarily one asks: 'If Botha is so great upon the Union Jack, why did he \ fight ■ for the maintenance of the Vierklcur?' .'/No!. Whilst it is the duty of every former burgher of the South African Republio to, submit to the Treaty of'Vereeniging, it is not-becoming for any of them: to behave as 'if ho.rejoiced over the 16ss of his independent flag. I. have too .mtfch respect, tor the 'General to suppose that .it. is agreeable to him that his people are no longer independent:,l believe that his .extreme''.loyalty ■is. not founded too deep in his heart., and that politics (het pof.itiek) has;a- great deal to do with his "professions.' : '■'■■' But ex-President- -'■,Steyn stands! no lower; in the regard 1 of-English-men in .South'-Africa than;.be /because he: has ; not -manifested- such an exceptional affection for the British fbjg./, What welldisposed. Englishman expects such an affection/from.'one- who was': formerly, a Republican? 1 ■ Prom-.-my heart, ■'therefore, I; hope that our Prime' Minister will be somewhat more cautious ;in his utterances; 'not only for the sake of; his own fine reputation, but for. the.sake 'of the influence which an Afrikander in his. position necessarily .-.exerts upon, the character. .-. of the .people.'. May my..-.- distinguished ' friend accept this little piece of advice in/the 'same 1 friendly spirit in which it'; is written!" •, '/