The Imperial Government may now be said to evacuate South Africa, and to leave it to the control of its own people.  It is true that for the time being the Imperial Government will continue to control the native protectorates of Basutoland, Bechuanaland, and Swaziland.  But the Constitution provides for the future transfer of these to the administration of a commission appointed by the colonial Government.  Provision is also made for the future inclusion of Rhodesia within the Union.  South Africa will therefore find itself on practically the same footing as Canada or Australia within the British Empire.  What its future fate there will be no man can yet foretell.  In South Africa, as in the other Dominions, an intense feeling of local patriotism and “colonial nationalism” will be matched against the historic force and the practical advantages of the Imperial connection.  Even in Canada, there is no use in denying it, there are powerful forces which, if unchecked, would carry us to an ultimate independence.  Still more is this the case in South Africa.

It is a land of bitter memories.  The little people that fought for their republics against a world in arms have not so soon forgotten.  It is idle for us in the other parts of the Empire to suppose that the bitter memory of the conflict has yet passed, that the Dutch have forgotten the independence for which they fought, the Vier Klur flag that is hidden in their garrets still, and the twenty thousand women and children that lie buried in South Africa as the harvest of the conqueror.  If South Africa is to stay in the Empire it will have to be because the Empire will be made such that neither South Africa nor any other of the dominions would wish to leave it.  For this, much has already been done.  The liberation of the Transvaal and Orange River from the thraldom of their Crown Colony Government, and the frank acceptance of the Union Constitution by the British Government are the first steps in this direction.  Meantime that future of South Africa, as of all the Empire, lies behind a veil.

PORTUGAL BECOMES A REPUBLIC A.D. 1910

WILLIAM ARCHER

The wave of democratic revolt which had swept over Europe during the first decade of the twentieth century was continued in 1910 by the revolution in Portugal.  This, as the result of long secret planning, burst forth suddenly before dawn on the morning of October 4th.  Before nightfall the revolution was accomplished and the young king, Manuel, was a fugitive from his country.

The change had been long foreseen.  The selfishness and blindness of the Portuguese monarchs and their supporters had been such as to make rebellion inevitable, and its ultimate success certain.  Mr. William Archer, the noted English journalist, who was sent post-haste to watch the progress of the revolution, could not reach the scene before the brief tumult was at an end; but he here gives a picture of the joyous celebration of freedom that followed, and then traces with power and historic accuracy the causes and conduct of the dramatic scene which has added Portugal to the ever-growing list of Republics.