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Otago Daily Times, Issue 12447, 2 September 1902, Page 4

THE MANTLE! OF ELIJAH. It 'Were curious if in the reconstruction of parties at the Cape the mantle of the late Mr Rhodes should descend upon his lieutenant, Dr Jameson; yet siicli a development appears to be quite within the '-bounds oi the possible* if We may judge from the tenor of a cable that appeared in our issue of Monday. The situation iii Cape Colony is a most difficult one to grapple with, and if ever in. the histoiy of the colony a strong hand at the helm was needed to guide

the -ship of State through the dangers that menace the Government that time has now come. That the Premier, Sir Gordon Sprigg, does not command the confidence of a large and influential section of the people of the colony, the'controversy on tne proposal to suspend the Constitution, which occupies a large amount of space iu tho Cape papers,, amply demonstrates. At this distance from the theatre of operations it is difficult to accurately gauge the true inwardness of the situation; but from an outside view the resolve of the Imperial Government not to interfere with the course of constitutional government at the Cape received general approval. l<; was the abstract principle rather than, the immediate needs of the situation that appealed to outsiders. On the spot? the viewpoint is different, and it is worthy of note that the leading Cape papers have strenuously upheld Lord Milner in his advocacy of suspension of the Constitution. There, is no man living in the Empire to-day who has a clearer grasp of South African, affairs than th© British High Commissioner, and in. view of the troubled sea of discord that Sir Gordon Sprigg appears to have embarked upon, we are not quite satisfied that outside judgment upoii Lord Mil- ; ner's attitude has not been too hastily arrived at. The dual alliance of Sir Gordon Sprigg and the discredited Afrikander Bond is, at the outset, a dan- . gerous compact, and throws a certain amount of suspicion, upon the Premier's ; motives. It ■ leaves a doubt as to , whether pride of place or loyalty.to the I Empire fills the wider field in the Cape j Premier's horizon. That prominent i Bondsmen, such as Messrs- Sauer, Merrij man, and Tewater, steeped to the,neck I in- sedition as they have been, should .again be allowed to lift their Voices in : protest against practical measures of safety in a presumably loyal colonial Parliament, discredits the alliance which, for political reasons, Sir Gordon Sprigg ; lias ent&red into. Dr Jameson has de- ■ nonnced the Bond, and in so doing lias created a profound impression at the Cape. It is even said the Progressives i hail him as the only possible, leader of their party, tfc was olily natural that J Dr Jameson should have the notorious ■ raid thrown iii his teeth; but, grave an ; error as the raid was, it was at least I actuated by loyal motives. And, iii any ' case, the supineness of the. British Ad- , ministration at the Cape wfts largely responsible for the raid. Dr Jameson t-o- ---. day has a wider outlook upon, the Imj perinl position in South Africa)-and a ; clearer vision as to correct modes of \ action, so the one .serious blunder of a lifetime need not t)e counted against him. , as a prospective leader of British and 1 Dutch loyalists in. Cape Colony. That Dr Jameson is a Strong inait the raid ! proved, for none but a strong flian would have embarked upon such an enterprise. Had it succeeded a p»aii of gratitude j would have foiled round the Ilmpir© ; bttt it. failed—-hinc illse lacrimra. It is evident that a Stroiig; hand is i-equil'ed to lead the Cape Parliament at the present time, and Sir Gordon Sprigg \ does not convey the impression of. grasping the situation with a sufficiently masterful grip. Any temporary dalliance with the Afrikander Bond,, even i in order to gain an ulterior object, is to be deprecated, and nothing would iii- ! fepire so great confidence as a strong leader prepared to Carry ok thV functions of government without the more than dubibUs assistance of the BoikL Cecil Hhodes c&urted the co-operatioiii of th& Bond, trusting to gain suf&cieivt; influence to throw it overboard eventufelly, but the circlVmstaiices haVe Completely changed, and Sir Gctfclbn Sprigg is a nianof different calibre. .. . j.. /