The only chance of a true union is the
overshadowing protection of a supreme power, and any German, Frenchman,
or Russian would tell you that the best and most liberal power is that
over which Her Majesty reigns." The other interview took place at the
beginning of the Bond's existence. Being approached by Mr Reitz, Mr T.
Schreiner objected that the Bond aimed ultimately at the overthrow of
British rule and the expulsion of the British flag from South Africa. To
this Mr Reitz replied: "Well, what if it is so?" Mr Schreiner
expostulated in the following terms: "You do not suppose that that flag
is going to disappear without a tremendous struggle and hard fighting?"
"Well, I suppose not, but even so, what of that?" rejoined Mr Reitz. In
the face of this testimony with reference to two of the most prominent
of the Bond's promoters, it is impossible to deny that from its
beginning the great underlying idea of the Bond was an independent South
Africa.

_Mr Hofmeyr's Policy_.--In 1882 an act was passed in the Cape
legislative assembly, empowering members to speak in the Dutch language
on the floor of the House, if they so desired. The intention of this act
was a liberal one, but the moment of its introduction was inopportune,
and its effect was to give an additional stimulus to the policy of the
Bond. It was probably also the means of bringing into the House a number
of Dutchmen, by no means well educated, who would not have been returned
had they been obliged to speak English. By this act an increase of
influence was given to the Dutch leaders. The head of the Afrikander
Bond at this time in Cape Colony, and the leader of Dutch opinion, was
Mr J.H. Hofmeyr, a man of undoubted ability and astuteness. Although he
was recognized leader of the Dutch party in Cape Colony, he consistently
refused to take office, preferring to direct the policy and the action
of others from an independent position. Mr Hofmeyr sat in the house of
assembly as member for Stellenbosch, a strong Dutch constituency. His
influence over the Dutch members was supreme, and in addition to
directing the policy of the Bond within the Cape Colony, he supported
and defended the aggressive expansion policy of President Kruger and the
Transvaal Boers. In 1883, during a debate on the Basutoland
Dis-annexation Bill, Rhodes openly charged Mr Hofmeyr in the House with
a desire to see a "United States of South Africa under its own flag." In
1884 Mr Hofmeyr led the Bond i