It had all along been realized that while Lord Rosmead continued to act as High Commissioner in South Africa there would be no possibility of the Uitlanders’ grievances being again taken up by her Majesty’s Government.  The High Commissioner had committed himself to the opinion that it would be unsuitable and indeed improper to make any representations on the subject for a considerable time.  Moreover, his age and ill-health rendered him unfit for so arduous a task.  Many hard things have been said and written about the late High Commissioner, but it must be admitted that with age and infirmity weighing him down he was confronted by one of the most desperate emergencies which have ever arisen to try the nerve of a proconsul.  It is true that the responsibilities of Government are not to be met by excuses:  the supports of the Empire must stand the strain or be condemned.  But it is also true that those who regard themselves as victims may not lightly assume the functions of independent judges:  and thus it was that in a mood of sympathy and regret, with perhaps some tinge of remorse, the news of Lord Rosmead’s death was accepted as evidence unanswerable of the burden which in the autumn of his days he was called upon to bear.

When the name of Sir Alfred Milner was mentioned as the coming High Commissioner all South Africa stood to attention.  Seldom surely has a representative of the Queen been put through such an ordeal of examination and inquiry as that to which Sir Alfred Milner’s record was subjected by the people of South Africa.  Not one man in a thousand had heard his name before; it was as some one coming out of the great unknown.  The first feeling was that another experiment was being made at the expense of South Africa; but almost before the thought had formed itself came the testimony of one and another and another, representing all parties and all opinions in England; and the Uitlanders in the Transvaal began to hope and finally to believe that at last they were to have a man to deal with who would exhibit those qualities of intelligence, fairness, and firmness, which they regarded as the essentials.  Every word that was said or written about the new High Commissioner was read and studied in South Africa.  Every reference made to him by the representatives of the various political parties was weighed and scrutinized, and the verdict was that it was good!  Fair firm and able.  There had not been a discordant note nor a voice lacking in the chorus which greeted the appointment; and the judgment was, ‘They have given one of England’s very best.’

The impression had somehow gained ground in South Africa that the first act of Sir Alfred Milner would be to visit the Transvaal and endeavour to arrange matters.  The hearts of the Uitlanders sank at the thought of even the ablest and best-intentioned of men tackling so complicated a problem without any opportunity of studying the local conditions and the details.  It was therefore with undisguised satisfaction