SOUTH AFRICAN UNITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 161, 2 August 1909, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICAN UNITY.

The assembling in conference at tlie heart of the Jimpire of the South African delegates to discuss the 'schedules of tlii' new Constitution prior tu the passage of tlie Union Dill through Parliament marks what hereafter will, be regarded as an epoch in 'the history of the Umpire. The most striking as 'it is Ihe most obvious aspect of the gathering is the stupendous contrast it presents when compared with the situation of ten years ago. As the JJunedin (Star reminds us, it wan in October, jsili), that President liruger launched his ulli malum against (ireat liritain. A fen weeks Inter the men of Natal and Cape Colony were drawn up i;i kittle arrai against those of the Transvaal am I Orange liive r Colony, while the troop of the Motherland and contingents fron Sew Zealand, Australia, and Canad: were pouring across the seas to he! l'» c-.'!i*h the rebellious republics. I-'o 'three years the war dragged its slo\ leiign! along, during which much his lory was made. 'J'he immediate on! come of the cessation of hostilities vv.i " till' establishment of a (ioycrnmcnt con sistimr hi an executive and nominate ,-1 - council. Four years later a Coiistjl) ii»u was granted conferring the alwi "Slut.c j'ight of responsible self-goveri i ini.nl. The .experiment, as it was termei Jj was denounce// as premature and ha; jj anion-. Time, Inijycver, lnis justilie £ the boldness and the wi<.don> of the In J I'l'iial (iovernment. Within tsyo year 9 «J' iJir lirst meetings of the TrimUaa and ) Vjiiigia I'arliainents delegates' froi these «»l»jjies and from Cape Colon and Xaial are Associated at the sum lahle for a common jairppse and a con: moil ideal—the unilieatiou of Sout Africa under one Parliament anil on 'Jiag, There has been nothing, say if:? Slur. <piitc so remarkable a I I his i:i (he 'history of an Kmpir rich in coiilrasts ' anil fruitful i surprise*. .Neither Canada nor Indi "Hers a like trnti.a/ormation; w have to return to tlm interns struggles among the various States o the I'nion that followed on the war (J American Independence to find a littin fomparison. And even here the chang bntfc within and without is less marve! Inns. South African unity means th creation of a weapon—the 'only possibl and effective wcapto#—for dealing wit I I'oblcms that have to H faced. . Tlier ■'|r <! racial questions of imm&ij.se ' dill culty. Others of the British self goverr nig communities have had their raein 1 j/oblems, but. save in India in the eH] t+v-jll.li century, iwe do not recall "v instance where, in addition to the nativ trouble, Jiritons simultaneously hav had to allay the race prejudices of white people who were lirst in posses sion and who have been forcibly supe: felled. Dutch antipathy is far fron being wholly eradicated, jjov proliabl will it he as Jong as the older niember of the present generation survive, Ttier still remains a dislike as intense as i is lively for (he British and their way .'inong the adherents of the Dutel Church and in country districts. Bu at Siottom it is the colored question alone that affords possible causes <1 national danger. Jlr. Botha has 110 fea on the JJoer side; growling .there ma' lie. but it will die down and pass awa' Wore the inspiring spirit, that this liev •■r.l will bring in its is-th black i]iiestion, whother'iri the <Jau« 0 -Viital. whether of Hottentot, Kaffir; 0 Zulu, that most concerns .South Africa] hitesincii. Anil South Africa unite, can do what South Africa split int> four distinct and occasionally biclierin Sliiles could never do. In ilie words o

>ii' (leorjre J'arrnr. used "\vllo7l criticising Oil' altitude of a section of the ppojrle nf Natal: ''The isolation of ono part ivjraviliiig itself as peculiarly British Willi tin? most likely tliinjr to ]<ei>|> racial, ii-m alive. The only way in which the <luestion could be solved was by the'

whole of South Africa working out its destiny as one nation. Isolation was hopeless from every point of view and would not prevent .the union of the other colonies." A united South Africa can face the future with confidence and equanimity. Her destiny is. in her own hands to make or mar. To quote Lord Selborne's expressive phrase: "The bread eaten by the children of South Africa will be lionie-made." For this peaceful conclusion of a contest that hut .yesterday rent the new nation in twain the Empire owes a debt of thanksto the generosity of the Imperial Government. and to the common sense of the popular leaders of South Africa.