SOUTH AFRICA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume 16, Issue 14, 16 October 1909, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA.

A TRIUMPH FOR THE EMPIRE. Sir Harry Johnston, writing in tin 'Nineteenth Century, says : — "Since arriving in England a few weeks ago I have repeatedly been asked whether tbe foundations of South African union are well and truly laid. My qualified affirmative — of ~ necessity qualified ; everybody can point to something which be thinks might be unproved upon — met on one occasion with the remark: — "Well, whether the Union is good or bad, we must make the best of it; the people of South Africa want it, so we cannot do otherwise than give it our benediction. It seems to promise well, but what other nation, after throwing .ay 250 million* of money and thousands of lives firmly to establish their rule in a country, would abandon the fruits, as we are doing? What do we „ ■> trom the war, except the right to send out a Governor-General and to police the Union sea board P" THE VALUE OF PEACE IN WAR. "The answer is— Much. And never more than now, when European armaments are being menacingly increased and the cloud of war sits darkly on the horison. In order to appreciate the position, let us resume the Republics still in being, and Britain embroiled in Europe. What, then would be her situation? First of all, she would be compelled simply as a precautionary measure to increase her garrison at the Cape. Next, if agents of the evening succeeded, ms they would strive to succeed, in dragging the Republics into the quarrel, she would be compelled to send out an expeditionary force, and to embark on a harassing campaign, in addition to facing her difficulties at °"Or, assume the whole land British, but disaffected, as it would have been under an Imperial pofiey lew than that adopted at Vereeniging. # An augmented garrison would be required to keep the peaoe, and if our European antagonist* were he whose South African frontier is conterminous with that of Cape Colony, raids from his confine* would throw half the country, into revolt.- «n either case, Republic or no Republics,, South Africa .would gravely occupy the Imperial authorities,, and be a serious weakness to the Empire. '^Howdifferent U the fact] South Africa, united and contented, m to Britain and the Empire only a source of strength. The Home Government, instead of being distracted during.hostilities in Europe by desperate .event, six thousand miles away, wffl be aWe to devote themselves wholly to theconFlict at their do6r». Their anmes, iMt**d<rf being ■oftfcered, wiU be available for concentration witbjnthe area where tbey "most art **£*£*• *25 people of South Africa, Dutch a* weU v English, instead of being at oach other's throat, and detaining i?©" 19 "? who could be usefully employea el»eWlSre? wSl manfully bear *h«rjh«e in combating the common /°°. 1 "! he present himself in South Africa or abroad: rV VAtifJ^oijTgma) south "In war or peaoe, United South Africa will be tothe Empire nothing ess than are Canada, .Anjtral^aiw Hew Zealand. Under the Act of Union *he Imperialfactor w^ Ihr?1 h r? ! all £ 11 2 Scope and tße Imperial .*pirit be a* virile in South Africa as in any of the £&r& r domiiiibns.; Sou* h /w*taifCJ^ tions to t^ I f^ own^^«& r h S%le in the heart* of <he J»opK South "trica will prove *• faithful *. her sisters to the trust reposed in her. _ »£ Canadian."