A REPUBLIC ?

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 36, 11 August 1930, Page 9

A REPUBLIC ?

SOUTH AFRICAN ISSUE

OLD CRY REVIVED

<WE MUST STAND ALONE'

Tho South African Republican issue was clearly and definitely resuscitated at a meeting, when a small but rcprcgentaftve meeting of Republican sup-porte-s drawn from three of the four provisoes adopted a resolution designed to jn&ke it a political plank, says tho "Cape Tunes,"

Tho resolution read: "That this meeting appoint a committee, representative) as far as possible of tho whole Union, to find a basis for a national oouference which will bo called when* ever tho opportunity is favourable, with the object of establishing a league ,-withiu the Nationalist Party in order to reestablish tho original ideals of the party." A considerable section of those present desired to make tho object of the j proposed league the revival of the old Kopublicau ideals of the party. In view, however, of differences of opinion as to the Bepublican leanings pf the Nationalist Party, it was decided not to alter the wording of the resolution, which loft ample room for the ultimate materialisation of the meeting's Bepublican aims. HONOUR AND PRIDE. Dr. H. J. Stoyn, ex-Mayor of Blocmfontein, and a present town councillor, was the principal speaker. After explaining the relationship that existed between those present and the Nationalist Party, he said the former were not in direct opposition to a spirit of eonciliatiou between the two races, but they were against the typo of conciliation that involved the sacrifice of national aims and ideals, of national honour and pride. Dr. Stoyne. paid there were three deft-1 nite conceptions of the Union's constitutional position as it existed to-day. I The first was the South African Party attitude that South Africa must accept I her position within, the Commonwealth without qualification. The second consisted of those who were satisfied with tho present position, but reserved the right to secede if at some future time the interests of South Africa required it. To this section, Dr. Steyn asserted, belonged a large and growing majority of the Nationalist Party. In these circumstances, it was legitimate to ask whether this, growing tendency was in harmony with the great ideals-of the Nationalist Party which had come, into being as a reaction against this very tendency. It was fair to ask, in the circumstances, whether General Hertzog was not saying to-day '•what General Botha had said years ' 'WAITING IN VAIN." That was why there had come into luiing a third manner of looking at South Africa's constitutional needs. > ""We say in this thivd group," de-1 clargd Pr, Stoyn, ."that jt is not aj nuestion as to when and' in what cir> i iuuvjstances South Africa may feel compelled to stand aloxie, We say that it is in the interests of South Africa now to staiid ajono." They were told, he added, that they jjiust wait, that they must not hasten too rapidly, but the solution of constitutional technicalities brought them no aiearer their goal| asd waiting waa in yam. They did not desire the abstract lights of secession and succession. fJUey desired living ideals, after which they could strive and struggle. "We want a republic apart from the British Empire, with treaties that will give us. all the advantages and none of the disadvantages that we have today," said Dr, Steyn, "The independence that we have can never satisfy us, as there is no honourable and equal share in that independence for the largest section of the community." Everything, he added, was British in same and complexion, and the Afri. kaang.spea.king South African felt that there was no place for him in such a hierarchy. Only by means of a, Republic with a flag meaning as much to one section ag to the other could reparation bo done i'or the spiritual injury which one section in South Africa had suffered. ''RULED BY PROXY.' • Abject worship of the Empiro was 31 ot in harmony with the democratic jdeals of Afrikaners any more than was tho present system of being governed >y prosy, "It ig not a question of whether we want an English Governor-General or a South Afrioan Governor-General, but the tirutb is that we do not want a (jfqverngF'General at all. South Africa is too good a country to be mled by proxy in this way," concluded Dr. Steyn.

Advocate H. J. Edeliug said that the British Empire was not the best means of ensuring the development of a healthy national character in South Africa. alone was the real solution of the country's great national problems^the common basis on which the two sections could stand together and build. Never had Bepub? lican feeling been so strong as it was to-day, and only present economic conditions prevented it from finding adequate expression. Professor C. J. H. de Wet, of Pot, tehefstroom, said that to his mind the immediate question to be settled was not what form of Government waa best suited for South Africa, but whether tha country wag in reality aa free as was commonly supposod. •'WRONG SPIRIT." Personally, in spite of General HortSEQg's nsgurancei he did not think South Africa was independent. In if act, it was less so than it had been before the declaration of: freedom, syiee ifc was bound to the Empire now by its own free will. (<Tp my mind,'* declared Professor itle Wet, "tha Nationalist Purty has murdered the ideal of independence. If the old Article i of the Party's could be revived, I would J>e cpntent, but aa ifc is I maintain that our political leaders are busy try* Jug to kill our sentiment." His objection to the Nationalist Party leaders was that they were , busy cneleavouring to shackle Sonth Africa more firmly than ever to the Empire. It was the meeting's duty to form a bond within tho Nationalist Party with the object of changing tho wrong spirit that had come over it since 1926. Thig bond should work against tho conciliation stream, with which they were-i jiot eatiefled. ' The resolution already quoted was submitted by Dr. do Wet, and seconded by Mr. Bammersjna (Cape Province), After a proposition in favour of the iinmediato establishment; of a league •vdthin the Nationalist Party had been rejected, the original motion was adopt? ted without dfsssent. ' A committee, representative of the Cape, Transvaal, and Free, State, was fchqsen to. make arrangements for the Conference.