y touching on politics. I am glad
he did, because more interest is given to the discussion, and there
is nothing like good, healthy controversy. Sir Frederick Young is
greatly concerned that there should be a settled policy for South
Africa. All I can say is, in Heaven's name, don't listen to a syren
voice of that kind. So surely as you have a settled policy--some
great and grand scheme--so surely will follow disaster and
disgrace. The people of South Africa may be very stupid, but they
are very much like other people--determined to make their policy
themselves, and the policy of South Africa is not going to be
framed in Downing Street. I cannot help thinking Sir Frederick
Young did injustice to some of my friends who have been at the head
of affairs. "The mournful mismanagement of South African affairs,"
he says, "during the last twenty-five years, and most especially
during the last decade, has been truly lamentable, and cannot fail
to awaken the saddest feelings on the part of every loyal Briton
and true-hearted patriot." But have affairs been mismanaged for the
last twenty-five years? The revenue twenty-five years ago was
L500,000. It is now nearly L4,000,000. For twenty-five years, under
the beneficent rule of Downing Street, we had not a mile of
railway. Now we have 2,000 miles. Twenty-five years ago there was
no national feeling at all. Now there is a strong South African
feeling, which is destined to grow and build up a South African
policy. As to the talk about a settled and firm policy, Sir Philip
Wodehouse was the last Governor who had a grand scheme from Downing
Street. A more honest, conscientious, and able man did not exist;
but his policy was a failure. Then came my friend Sir Henry Barkly.
His policy was distinctly opposite. It was a true policy for South
Africa. It was a policy of _laissez-faire_. The result was, things
went on as merrily as a marriage bell, Dutch and English drew
together, the natives were quiet, South Africa was prosperous, and
everything went on as happily as possible till Mr. Froude and Lord
Carnarvon hit on the grand scheme of uniting South Africa. From
that day our misfortunes began. One of the most able, courteous,
and high-minded gentlemen in the British service--Sir Bartle
Frere--was sent to carry out this f