very fitting, I will not say reply, but comment, on the address to
which we have listened with such pleasure; but Mr. Merriman, with
his strong arguments and apt illustrations, came at the end to the
conclusion at which Sir Frederick Young had arrived. I have not
much to add, but I think we have heard from Sir Frederick Young a
view of South African affairs on the political side which, I may
tell you frankly, differs diametrically from my own. I have heard
from Mr. Merriman a view of affairs in which I cordially concur,
but from neither have I heard of that third aspect which, I think,
is necessary to complete the view. Sir Frederick Young has told us
that for twenty-five years, certainly during the last ten years,
South Africa has been mismanaged. I must confess I was sorry to
hear the strong language he used, because one cannot but remember
that for the greater part of the last twenty years most of the
affairs of South Africa have been in the hands of free
self-governing communities. Cape Colony has been under Responsible
Government since 1873, and the Free State and the Transvaal have
always been self-governing. I agree with Mr. Merriman that for the
last twenty-five years affairs in South Africa have progressed,
with one signal and fatal exception, and that was the policy under
which we took over and then gave back the Transvaal. Omitting that,
I think we have but little to be sorry for in the history of South
Africa. There have been troubles, but I, for one, think that all
difficulties, would have been avoided if the phrase "Imperial aid"
had been substituted for that of "Imperial interference" in the
affairs of South Africa. It is the aid which has been given by the
Mother Country which has resulted in developing the material
resources, and, above all, in establishing the security from native
attack of various European States in South Africa. Sir Frederick
Young spoke of the attitude towards the Imperial Government. I