inevitably sinks.’  The Boers needed to be chastised; only thus could they be kept from sinking; only thus can there be hope for the native races.  Who shall chastise them?  Another nation, which God wishes also to chastise.  Is therefore God for one nation and not for another?  May He not be for one, and for the other too?  If both pray, must He refuse one?  Perhaps God is great enough to answer both, and bringing both through the fire, purge and teach them.”

It would have been bad for us if we had won an early or an easy victory.  We should have been so lifted up with pride as to be an offence to high Heaven.  But we have gone and are going through deep waters, and the wounds inflicted on many hearts and many homes are not quickly healed.  In this we recognise the hand of God, who is faithful in chastisement as in blessing.

Many have, no doubt, read, and I hope some have laid to heart, the words which Lord Rosebery recently addressed to the Press, but which are applicable to us all at this juncture.  They are wise and statesmanlike words.  Taking them as addressed to the Nation and not to the Press only, they run thus:  “At such a juncture we must be sincere, we must divest ourselves of the mere catchwords and impulses of party....  We must be prepared to discard obsolete shibboleths, to search out abuse, to disregard persons, to be instant in pressing for necessary reforms—­social, educational, administrative, and if need be, constitutional.

“Moreover, with regard to a sane appreciation of the destinies and responsibilities of Empire, we stand at the parting of the ways.  Will Britain flinch or falter in her world-wide task?  How is she best to pursue it?  What new forces and inspiration will it need?  What changes does it involve?  These are questions which require clear sight, cool courage, and freedom from formula."[41]

In the conscientious study which I have endeavoured to make of the history of the past century of British rule in South Africa, nothing has struck me more than the unfortunate effects in that Colony of our varying policy inspired by political party spirit in the Mother Country; and consequently I hail with thankfulness this good counsel to “divest ourselves of mere catchwords and impulses of party, to discard obsolete shibboleths, to free ourselves from formula, and to disregard persons,” even if these persons are or have been recognized leaders, and to abide rather by principles.  “What new forces and inspiration do we need,” Lord Rosebery asks, for the great task our nation has before it?  This is a deep and far-reaching question.  The answer to it should be sought and earnestly enquired after by every man and woman among us, who is worthy of the name of a true citizen.