CHAPTER XV

EVENTS LEADING UP TO SPECIAL SESSION OF PARLIAMENT.

1875

Mr. Molteno's reasons for advising Special Session-Contemplates Resignation

- Correspondence with Sir Henry Barkly-Press supports Lord Carnarvon's Policy-Misrepresents feeling of Country-Lord Carnarvon's second Despatch-Ministerial Minute on Confederation-Mr. Molteno refuses to allow Mr. Froude to see Minutes – Froude presses Governor for Ministerial Policy -Correspondence with Sir Henry Barkly-Revolution in Constitution of Natal-Sir Garnet Wolseley Dictator-Reply of Natal - Reply of Free State -Reply of Transvaal-Public Excitement.

MR. FROUDE, as we have already seen,' had urged upon the Governor the summoning of a special session with a view to displacing the Premier. It was from quite a different point of view that Mr. Molteno had arrived at the conclusion that a special session was absolutely necessary in the interests of the country. It appeared to him to be imperative to take the strongest constitutional step in his power to put an end to an agitation, which was fraught with the most dangerous consequences to the country. It was indeed a time of severe trial to him. The arduous work, to which he had devoted his life, of consolidating the different portions of the Colony, both politically and in sentiment, of disposing of contentious party cries, such as those of East and West, and English and Dutch, of uniting the best qualities of both in the advancement of their common country, of disarming the power of the natives for evil by ruling them with justice, and showing them the genuine desire of the white men for their welfare—all this was now being shattered by the wild and reckless agitation directed and fanned by Mr. Froude.

" See p. 412, supra.

Responsible government, which he had advocated since his membership in the first Parliament of the Colony, and which he had introduced and administered with such conspicuous success, was being undermined by Lord Carnarvon and his agent, Mr. Froude. Its vindication could be no longer delayed, and, for the sake of the peace and safety of the country, an end had to be put to the agitation.

So disastrous was the existing state of things to his hopes and aspirations for the good of the Colony; so pained was he by the action of Lord Carnarvon and Mr. Froude, and to such an extent was his attitude misrepresented in the press of the mother country, and the partisan newspapers of the Cape, that at one time he momentarily contemplated retirement; but it had never been his habit, and it was not in his nature, to draw back in the face of difficulties, and he determined, therefore, notwithstanding the worry and anxieties connected with the position, to firmly maintain and adhere to the course which he had conscientiously taken up. He wrote to Sir Henry Barkly as follows:

Colonial Secretary's Office,

Cape Town, August 21st, 1875. MY DEAR SIR,—I wrote you a hurried note by last post (Thursday), with copies of telegrams relative to native affairs; since which nothing further has been received. You will notice that Sir Garnet Wolseley remains at Natal until Sir Henry Bulwer arrives, so the latter has left this morning in the Windsor Castle for Port Elizabeth, and goes on from that port in the Florence, by which vessel Sir Garnet comes to this, and will probably go home in the Windsor Castle on the 10th of September. I have had a good deal of conversation with Sir Henry Bulwer; from what he says I suppose a despatch from Lord Carnarvon to your Excellency must have reached this and been sent on, which will no doubt throw some light on the confederation question. I have a note from his Lordship in reply to mine of the 26th of June ; but, beyond expressing regret at the difference of opinion, and that it will give him the greatest personal satisfaction to find a mode by which, in our different spheres of action, we can work towards the common object which he is persuaded we have in view, the general

welfare of South Africa, there is not much in it. Sir Henry is, of course, favourable to holding a conference, even should nothing immediately result from it, and also hopes that the difficulties may be overcome. I did not lead him to believe that I thought there was much chance of this, in so far as my colleagues and self personally were concerned. I am rather disappointed at the extent to which opposition is being evinced to Merriman's appointment, and how it is being worked into the confederation question. Altogether, it looks very much as if the action of Lord Carnarvon and Mr. Froude must have the effect of shortening the period during which, in my present position, my services will be of much use to the Colony.

The newspapers will give you full information as to what is going on generally here.

Believe me, my dear Sir,

Yours very truly,

J. C. MOLTENO. His Excellency Sir Henry Barkly, K.C.B.

To this Sir Henry Barkly replied :

Kimberley,

August 18th, 1875. MY DEAR SIR, I have to thank you for your note of 21st inst.. No news' from the Transkei may, I trust, be taken as 'good news.'

Sir Henry Bulwer has written to me as to his conversation with you about the Conference, and seems disappointed that you did not hold out more hopes of joining. I fancy I have been represented at home as the chief stumbling-block. I still hope you will take advantage of my Minute on Lord Carnarvon's despatch, No. 64, to explain during the recess why your Cabinet is reluctant to commit this Colony to taking part in the Conference, and the conditions upon which such reluctance would be overcome. It appears to me this is due to yourself, in face of the misrepresentations of the press at home, whatever the result of the agitation may be. I am sorry to see you writing as if you thought it not improbable it might lead to your retirement from office, more especially as a Ministry pledged to separation would be the inevitable consequence.

Yours very truly,

HENRY BARKLY. To the Hon. J. C. Molteno.

At the end of August the decision was taken to summon Parliament. It was a bold course for Mr. Molteno to take while the agitation was practically at white heat against him ; but he meant to loyally carry out the principle of responsible government; he believed fully in the prudence, the moderation, and the wise action which characterised his fellowlegislators. He believed that he was supported by all the best men in the country; but, at the same time, he would never have wished to hold office for a day did he not possess the real confidence of the country. There could be no doubt that the experiment would be attended with a large amount of risk to his Ministry, but Mr. Molteno was prepared to take the risk, as he had done in the Langalibalele affair, whenever the interests of the country demanded it. As the event proved his confidence was well placed. He felt that it would disarm the attack which had been made against him, both in the Colony and in the mother country, on the ground that Lord Carnarvon's proposal for a Conference had been dealt with too summarily, and without giving proper consideration to a proposal of such an important character. We have seen that Lord Carnarvon's own instructions permitted no delay, and that the charge was therefore most unfair to Mr. Molteno, who had urged delay in the strongest manner.

At this time Sir Henry Barkly was absent settling the affairs of Griqualand West, a fact which added considerably to the difficulties of Mr. Molteno's position. He had to take important steps such as the above entirely on his own initiative. That his conduct had the full concurrence of Sir Henry Barkly appears sufficiently in an extract from a letter of the latter's, dated the 4th of September, 1875:

It is easy to see, however, that in the present temper of the times the experiment will be attended with a certain amount of risk to your Ministry. Nevertheless, I concur with you that the boldest step may probably prove the safest, nor do I for a moment doubt that under the extraordinary circumstances of the case, the early assembling of Parliament would be the most constitutional and patriotic step you could adopt, and, therefore, the most worthy of your high position in South Africa. If it leads to a change of Ministry it must be advantageous to the Colony that it should take place a sufficient time before the ordinary session to admit of due preparation for public business. If it confirms your tenure of office you and your colleagues will have more heart to discharge your duties. In any event the Imperial Government, though it would doubtless prefer a direct appeal to the country, would no longer have cause to complain that its invitation had been hurriedly declined and its suggestions not treated with due deference. I do not indeed abandon the hope that concessions on your part, which would satisfy Lord Carnarvon, might be found practicable. What seems to me essential is that a definite statement of your objections should at once be drawn up both for transmission to his Lordship and to justify you in the course you have felt it your duty to pursue against the misrepresentations so industriously circulated by your adversaries ... Of course, in a matter of this kind I leave you quite at liberty to act in my name while absent. Sorry to be separated from you at such a time, but in some respects it

may be well that your decision should be come to without possibility of its being said that I had biased you against Lord Carnarvon's policy. You can now deal with Mr. Froude alone, and if he has authority to enter into a Conference, I can only say that I should be very glad to hear of its accomplishment, and that I have no wish whatever to complicate matters either by standing or putting impediments in the way of the fullest discussion of the course I have pursued.

Some further light is thrown upon Lord Carnarvon's views at this time by a letter from Mr. Fuller, the Cape Emigration Agent, who wrote to Mr. Molteno on the 5th of August:

I have this moment left Lord Carnarvon, and have had a long talk with him about the Cape and the Conference. It is now a quarter-past five, and I can only now state the drift of the conversation, or rather a little bit of it. The Earl expressed his determination to go on with the Conference, but said he appreciated the difficulties of the Cape Government, though he considered the Minute not very courteous to himself. He was, therefore, because of the difficulties, very anxious if he could be shown the way to meet the Government, so as to enable them still