The Press. FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1908. THE SOUTH AFRICAN SIBYL.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13110, 8 May 1908, Page 6

The Press. FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1908. THE SOUTH AFRICAN SIBYL.

Fifty years ago Sir George Grey advised the Imperial Government that "by a Federal Union alone the South "African colonies can "■ be made so " strong and so united in policy and " action that they can support them- " selves against the native tribes." Though the Governor had the support of the Volksraad of the Orange River Free State, Downing street rejected the suggestion. Some years later Lord Carnarvon, the Secretary, of State for the Colonies, attempted to force unification on South Africa, but failed. Then came Majuba, followed by years of bitterness, and then the war which finally decided, one hopes, which, flag was to bo supremo in South. Africa. Now the question of unity is again before the public, and the Conference at Pretoria has affirmed the principle of closer union, and has taken steps to draw up a Constitution for the ■whole of Sonth Africa. No wander that the history of South Africa has fceen compared to the fable of the Sibylh'ne books. Will South Africans take the gift of the Sibyl now, or do they require the bitter experience of more expenditure in blood and money to teach them the value of what she offers them? We nave the experience of Australia to show us that tho calling of conferences to disouss unity does not mean the immediate , consummation of the Federal idea. But the experience- oP disunited South Africa has been bitter, the problems which beset the colonies are acute, and the delay there may not be so long as it was in Australia. It would be- foolish to assume that the difficulties now confronting South Africa will disappear when union comes, but it is certain that they would be mitigated in time, and there is no knowing what may happen if union is delayed. The native question is not decreasing in seriousness. It is no exaggeration to say that South Africa might be engaged at any time in a life and death contest with her millions #f blacks, and it needs no great imagination to picture tho advantage a Federal Government would have over four or fivo separate Governments in dealing with such an emergency. A uniform policy towards the natives is urgently \ Hooded, as is uniformity in dealing ■with tho delicate Asiatic problem, j Closely connected with these questions is that of labour. Tho business of tho country depends on the supply of native labour, and tho best uso cannot bo made of the available supply until there is one policy throughout the countryTho railway issue is full of danger, for, as Lord Selborne has said, -the rail nay interests of tho colonies are

not only distinct but absolutely incompatible, and only federation can dissipate the cloud of strife. The possibilities of fiscal strife are etill more disastrous, and will not disappear until there is one tariff for tho whole of South Africa. "What South Africa " requires more than anything <Jse is " KtaibdJit-y," declares Lord Selborne, " stability in political conditions, sta"bility in oconomic conditions, stabili"ty in industrial conditions.

" But true stability will remain im- " possible so long as there are five "separate Governments in South " Africa, each developing a different "system in all branches of public life, " and each a potential antagonist of "the other, but no one national Go- " vernment with authority to haxmon- " ise the whole." The colonies of South Africa are in the position of a man who has an ailment which can only be cured by the knife. Nations as well as men may shrink from the surgeon, but they generally pay dearly for their timidity.