Cape Politics. 25 



Transvaal by the English Government was 

 naturally misunderstood by, or was not apparent 

 to, the mind of powerful native races. On the 

 whole, I find myself free to confess, and without 

 reluctance to admit, that the English escaped from 

 a wretched and discreditable muddle, not without 

 harm and damage, but probably in the best pos- 

 sible manner, and that lessons have been taught 

 to many parties by the Transvaal war which, if 

 learned, may be of the utmost value in framing- 

 future policy. 



South African politics are highly interesting at 

 the present moment. The position of the Cape 

 Government is one of apparent solidity and power. 

 Against it, suj^ported as it is by a preponderating 

 majority in Parliament, two ex-Prime Ministers, 

 in imperfect harmony with each other, and followed 

 by groups numerically insignificant, with difficulty 

 sustain the forms of an Opposition. Complete 

 concord and co-operation exist between the Par- 

 liament and the Ministers on the one hand, and the 

 High Commissioner on the other. It is, indeed, 

 well that this should be so now, for the develop- 

 ment of the ao-ricultural and mineral resources of 

 Matabeleland under the protection of the British 

 Government, through the instrumentality of the 

 Chartered Company, will require for years the 

 most skilful, prudent, and courageous handling. 

 That those resources will before long prove to be 

 of value to the English people does not admit of 

 doubt ; but their very value excites the cupidity, 

 not only of the weak and easily-controlled Boer, 



