s and unnatural alliance between the Afrikander nationalists
and the Liberal Opposition was renewed. It is quite true that the
official leader of the Opposition, in speaking at Glasgow on June 7th,
two days after Lord Roberts had occupied Pretoria, declared that, in
respect of the settlement, "one broad principle" must be laid down--

"the British Imperial power, which has hitherto been supreme in
effect in South Africa, must in future be supreme in form as well
as in effect, and this naturally carries with it the point which
is sometimes put in the foreground, namely, that there must be no
possibility that any such outbreak of hostilities as we have been
witnessing shall again occur.... The two conquered States must,
in some form or under some condition, become States of the
British Empire."

But when Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman proceeded to inform his audience
how this was to be done, he used expressions which not only robbed his
original statement of all significance as an indication of British
unanimity, but conveyed a direct intimation to the Afrikander
nationalists that their endeavours to frustrate the declared objects
of the Unionist Government would receive the support and encouragement
of the Opposition in England. His words were:

"We need have no doubt how it is to be done. By applying our
Liberal principles, the Liberal principles from which the
strength of the Empire has been derived, and on which it depends.
Let us apply our Liberal principles, and whether our party be in
a majority, or in a minority, I think that it is well in our
power to secure that these principles shall be applied. [The
General Election was imminent.] Let us restore as early as
possible, and let us maintain, those rights of self-government
which give not only life and vigour, but contentment and loyalty
to every colony which enjoys them...."

"Liberal principles," when applied to a given administrative problem,
as Mr. Chamberlain took occasion to point out (June 19th), meant, for
practical purposes, the opinions which prominent members of the
Liberal party were known to hold upon the matter in question. Lord
(then Mr.) Courtney was for autonomy--"the re-establishment of the
independence of the two Republics." Mr. Bryce advocated "the
establishment of two protected States, which would have a sham
independence of not much advantage to them fo