where the people are the sovereign and represent in themselves the
hereditary ruler, the hereditary Upper House, and the Lower House
combined, that the personnel of each accredited citizen becomes all
important. The greater the stability and immobility at one end of a
State, the greater the mobility and instability which may be allowed
at the other end, without endangering the stability of the State as
a whole, or the healthy performance of its functions. Even on this
comparatively small question of the franchise it is evident that the
problem before the little Transvaal Republic is one of much complexity,
and on which minds broadly liberal and sincerely desirous of attaining
to the wisest and most humane and most enlightened judgment may
sincerely differ.
Of those other and far more serious problems which the Republic faces
in common with South Africa, there is no necessity here to speak
further; the thoughtful mind may follow them out for itself. Time
and experiment must be allowed for the balance of things to adjust
themselves.
South Africa has need of more citizens leal and true. Whoever enters
South Africa and desires to become one of us, to drink from our cup
and sup from our platter, to mix his seed with ours and build up the
South Africa of the future--him let us receive with open arms. From
great mixtures of races spring great peoples. The scorned and oppressed
Russian Jew, landing here to-day, vivified by our fresh South African
breezes, may yet be the progenitor of the Spinoza and Maimonides of
the great future South Africa, who shall lead the world in philosophy
and thought. The pale German cobbler who with his wife and children
lands to-day, so he stays with us and becomes one with us, may yet be
the father of the greater Hans Sachs of Africa; and the half-starved
Irish peasant become the forerunner of our future Burkes and William
Porters. The rough Cornish miner, who is looking out with surprised
eyes at our new South African world to-day, may yet give to us our
greatest statesmen and noblest leader. The great African nation of the
future will have its foundations laid on stones from many lands. Even
to the Coolie and the Chinaman, so he comes among us, we personally
should say: Stretch forth the hand of brotherhood. We may not desire
him, we may not intentionally bring him among us, but, so he comes to
remain with us, let South Africa be home to him.
“Be not unmindful to entertain strangers, for some have thereby
entertained angels unawares.”
* * * * *
We, English South Africans of to-day, who are truly South African,
loving