I do not believe the South African political problem to be insoluble.  Two things are required to solve it satisfactorily.  For the present,—­I quote the eloquent words of a distinguished politician with whose wise and noble sentiments I cordially agree—­“what we ought to do in a case of this kind is to send out a statesman of the first order of talent, patience, and truthfulness, irrespective of politics or prejudice.  For it is an Imperial problem of the highest importance; and the powers of true patriotism and ambition should be amply gratified in dealing with it.”

And for the future, let me add my own earnest conviction, that what is wanted is Imperial Federation, as the goal to be ultimately reached, to render South Africa politically satisfied and content.

Imperial Federation means a constitutional system, under which she would be no longer misruled and misunderstood, by a Government, in which she has no share, in which she places no confidence, and by whom her wants and wishes are often ignored.  It is not, as is frequently untruly asserted by writers, and speakers, who have neither studied, comprehended, nor understood its theory and intention, its end and aim, that it means the subjugation of the independence of the Colonies to the control of the Mother Country.

As one of its most earnest advocates, I emphatically protest against all such erroneous interpretations, as a libel on the principle put forward, as a plan for the National Government.  On the contrary, the project of Imperial Federation, without any arriere pensee, clearly and distinctly involves the condition, that the Colonies themselves are to take their adequate part, and share with the Mother Country in its future concrete constitution.  In the brief, but expressive phrase, I have already publicly adopted, Imperial Federation means, “the Government of the Empire by the Empire.”  In Imperial Federation, therefore, South Africa would be fairly and influentially represented, along with the other Colonies of Great Britain.  In union with them she would take her part in guiding the policy, and directing the destinies of the whole British Empire.

[Illustration:  Decorative]

[Illustration:  Decorative]

APPENDIX I.

The following discussion took place on the paper read by Sir Frederick Young, on South Africa, at the opening meeting of the Session of the Royal Colonial Institute, on November 12th, at which the Marquis of Lome presided:—­

PROFESSOR H.G.  SEELEY:  In common with you all, I have listened with great pleasure to this interesting and wide-reaching address.  I have not myself been so far afield.  My observations were limited to Cape Colony; and the things which I saw in that Colony were necessarily, to a large extent, different from those recorded by Sir Frederick Young.  On landing at Cape Town I naturally turned to what the people of South