to be more unfortunate than that of allowing the
Transvaal State to resume the title of the "South African Republic." In
South Africa it embodied an impossible ideal; to the outside world it
conveyed a false impression. The title has been the reason of widespread
error with regard to the real nature of the Transvaal Government and of
its struggle with this country. If "Republican Independence" had been
all that Mr. Kruger was striving for, there would have been no war. He
adopted the name, but not the spirit of a Republic. The "Independence"
claimed by him, and urged even now by some of his friends in the British
Parliament, is shown by the whole past history of the Transvaal to be an
independence and a freedom which _involve the enslavement of other men._

A friend writes:--"In order to satisfy my own mind I have been looking
in Latin Dictionaries for the correct and original meaning of 'impero,'
(I govern,) and 'imperium.' The word 'Empire' has an unpleasant ring
from some points of view and to some minds. One thinks of Roman
Emperors, Domitian, Nero, Tiberius,--of the word 'imperious,' and of the
French 'Empire' under Napoleon I. and Napoleon III. The Latin word means
'the giving of commands.' All depends on whether the commands given are
_good_, and the giver of them also good and wise. The Ten Commandments
are in one sense 'imperial.' Now, I think the word as used in the phrase
_British Empire_ has, in the most modern and best sense, quite a
different savour or flavour from that of Napoleon's Empire, or the
Turkish or Mahommedan Empires of the past. It has come to mean the
'Dominion of Freedom' or the 'Reign of Liberty,' rather than the giving
of despotic or tyrannical or oligarchic commands. In fact, our
Imperialism is freedom for all races and peoples who choose to accept
it, whilst Boer _Republicanism_ is the exact opposite. How strangely
words change their weight and value!

"And yet there still remains the sense of 'command' in 'Empire;' and in
the past history of our Government of the Cape Colony there has been too
little wholesome command and obedience, and too much opportunism,
shuffling off of responsibility, with self-sufficient ignorance and
doctrinaire foolishness taking the place of knowledge and insight. Want
of courage is, I think, in short, at the bottom of the past
mismanagement."

* * * * *

The assertion is repeatedly made that "England coveted the gold of the
T