The concluding chapter of Mr. Reitz’s eloquent
impeachment of the conduct of Great Britain in South
Africa is devoted to a delineation of what he calls
Capitalistic Jingoism. It is probable that a great
many who will read with scant sympathy his narrative
of the grievances of his countrymen in the earlier
part, of the century will revel in the invective which
he hurls against Mr. Rhodes and the Capitalists of
the Rand. If happier times return to South Africa,
Mr. Reitz may yet find the mistake he has made in
confounding Mr. Rhodes with the mere dividend-earning
crew, who brought about this war in order to diminish
the cost of crushing gold by five or six shillings
a ton. In the realisation of the ideal of Africa
for the Africanders Mr. Rhodes might be more helpful
to Mr. Reitz and the Dutch of South Africa than any
other living man. Whether it is possible for them
to forget and forgive the future alone will show.
But at present it seems rather as if Mr. Reitz sees
nothing between Africanderism and Capitalistic Jingoism
but war to the death.
Mr. Reitz breaks off his narrative at the point immediately
before the Ultimatum. Those curious politicians
who begin their survey of the war from the launching
of that declaration will, therefore, find nothing in
A Century of Wrong to interest them. But
those who take a fresh and intelligent view of a long
and complicated historical controversy will welcome
the authoritative exposition of the causes which, in
the opinion of the authors of the Ultimatum, justified,
and, indeed, necessitated that decisive step.
To what Mr. Reitz has said it is only necessary to
add one fact.
The Ultimatum was dated October 9th. It was the
natural response to the menace with which the British
Government had favoured them three days previous,
when on October 6th they issued the formal notice calling
out the Reserves for the avowed object of making war
upon the South African Republic.
Whether they were right or wrong, it is impossible
to withhold a tribute of admiration and sympathy for
the little States which confront the onslaughts of
their Imperial foe with such heroic fortitude and serene
courage. As Dr. Max Nordau remarks in the North
American Review for December:—
The fact that a tiny people faces death
without hesitation to defend its independence
against an enemy fabulously superior in number,
or to die in the attempt, presents an aspect of moral
beauty which no soul, attuned to higher things,
will disregard. Even friends and admirers
of England—yea, even the English themselves—strongly
sense the pathos in the situation of the Dutch
Boers, who feel convinced that they are fighting for
their national existence, and agree that it equals
the pathos of Leonidas, William Tell, and Kosciusko.
Over and above all else the note in the State Secretary’s
appeal which will vibrate most loudly in the British
heart is that in which he appeals to his countrymen
