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Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1915, Page 4

THE SOUTH AFRICAN ELECTIONS. Muck gratification will be felt at the success of General Botha at the recent South African elections. Apart from the high esteem in which be is held throughout the Empire on account of his whole-hearted loyalty to the Power which he fought so valiantly, we cannot forget the great service he rendered in the conquest of German South Afriea, and the suppression of hostility, almost amounting to rebellion against the Union. He looms large to-day as one of the greatest and foremost statesmen of the ifimpire, and his election triumph will be heartily welcomed. He was bitterly opposed by General Hertzog, the leader of the old Boer party, which still retains its hatred towards the British, and the Hertzogites strove their hardest to discredit and defeat the Botha party. To the credit of South Africans generally they have completely vindicated not only General Botha's policy, but the Union Government as well. The three main parties in South African politics are now: Botha party 41, Unionists 38, nationalists 24, Independents and Labor necoturting for nine seats. At the formation of the Union in 1910, the Nationalist party, led by General Botha, enlisted the support of the Dutch organisations, and secured 67 seats. The chief element of the Opposition was the Unionist party, then led by Sir Starr Jameson, but later by Sir Thomas Bmartt, and absorbing the Unionist party of the Gape, the Progressives of the' Transvaal and the Constitutionalists of the Orango Free States. This party secured 37 seats. When Hertzog developed his embittered attack on Botha in consequence of the latter stamping out' the rebellious attempt of De Wet and others to overthrow British rule., the Unionist party sank their political differences and gave Botha their loyal support, which was continued during the recent elections with such gratifying results. In spite of the strenuous exertions of the turbulents headed by Hertzog, General Botha has retained about two-thirds of the Nationalist vote, but counting the support of the Unionists lie will face Parliament with a most satisfactory majority. The decisive rebuff which the Hertzogites have received will not tend to allay their bitterness and ill feeling against General Botha, but it should in some measure help to nullify the efforts to keep alive that feeling of racial hatred the existenee of which is due 'to such firebrands as Hertzog. With a strong Government to guide the destinies of the South African Union its affairs should proceed on sound and prosperous lines. It is a great country, and we arc proud that it is a part of our Empire, while the loyalty It has shown and the sacrifices it has made in this time of Empire trial cannot fail to evoke a feeling of gratitude from the overseas Dominions. The Union is to be congratulated on its good sense in securing a Government in which the rest of the Empire can feel the utmost confidence.