words, you would
have a limited fiscal Parliament by the side of the British
Parliament and the various Colonial Parliaments. This small body,
which would have to be created, would perhaps be the germ of an
Imperial Federation afterwards." He thought those were most
remarkable, and striking words. If people would think the subject
out in a calm judicial, and fair spirit, they would see in it the
fulfilment of what would not only promote the best interests of the
British Empire, but would also be the handmaiden of civilization to
others as well, because in it there was no idea of aggrandisement.
He had recently made a most remarkable tour through this
interesting country, and since he landed in Cape Town, on the 24th
May, had seen a great deal of it. He had visited Kimberley, and
gone down in a bucket to see one of the diamond mines; he had
travelled to Vryburg, and across the treeless desert in the
south-western portion of the Transvaal to Klerksdorp; thence on to
Johannesburg and down the gold mines, and further on to Pretoria,
where he had an interview with President Kruger, and attended
meetings of the Volksraad. He had been 150 miles north of Pretoria,
and dwelt for a fortnight in the open veldt, without going near a
house, and had seen the Kafirs in their kraals. He had crossed the
Transvaal, through Heidelburg and Newcastle, in Natal, down to
Durban, he had visited Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown, and had now
returned to Cape Town. What he had seen of this great country had
astonished him, and he thought it had a vast future before it; but
it required to be governed in the most enlightened and satisfactory
manner, and he appealed to both races--Dutch and English--to
co-operate and unite in developing its wonderful resources. It was
by this way alone--by cordial co-operation and a generous feeling
towards one another, that this would be realized. He believed that
Imperial Federation would be the best solution of the difficulties
which had arisen. He had heard whispers of what was called
Republicanism. We worshipped words rather than things; but the
British Constitution, especially when it would be expanded by
Federation, would be practically a Republic with a Queen as
President. He would, therefore, appeal once more to the judgment of
thou