The Transvaal of To-Day; War, Witchcraft, Sport, and Spoils in South Africa

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1881. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXL CONCLUSION. Justified or not?--A Court of Appeal--Slaves to theories--Froude on the Free States--Proconsuls--Conclusion. " It is not easy to justify what we have done in the Trans" vaal. If there be any laws of right and wrong by which " nations should govern themselves in their dealings with " other nations, it is hard to find the law in confonnity with " which that act was done. But for that act expediency can " be pleaded." (Trollope's ' South Africa,' vol. il p. 251.) I have now but to show that neither expediency nor even temporary convenience, much less the obtaining of strikingly or even fairly beneficial results, have as yet justified the high-handed proceeding by which 50,000 people were converted into enemies; and a most deplorable state of feeling between English and Dutch South Africans engendered: a feeling that may be the cause of tears and misery, if not of blows and blood, in years to come. I am firmly convinced that the British public knew nothing of the Transvaal and its circumstances before the annexation; and that, even now, they are not over well informed about the country they have acquired. I am equally well assured that the intentions of the Colonial Office towards South Africa and South Africans were most kind; and that the "Office" intended to be just, and even liberal, in its treatment of the Dutch. I am prepared to go still further, and to agree with Lord Carnarvon, that the Transvaal " has neither been sought nor coveted by him; " but I am also in a position to prove that the Earl and the Colonial Office were deceived and " bustled " by their South African agents and proconsuls into hasty and unfortunate actions; and that it will be well for the name and reputation of English officials, and well also for the honour of the...