Page:The Psychology of Jingoism.djvu/149

almost say entirely due – to the efforts of the League. He spoke with a full sense of responsibility, but he asked them to reflect how far the present position would have reached if it had not been for the persistent efforts of the South African League in Johannesburg. To illustrate that, he detailed the history of the famous Johannesburg Outlanders' petition, which emanated from the League, and could not have been successful unless it had been worked by men versed in every possible technicality of the work. That organization in Johannesburg was the outcome of the organization in Cape Colony, and that showed what their organization had done.

In Cape Colony the League, under the presidency and financial support of Mr. Rhodes, has been the fighting wing of the 'progressive' party; in the Transvaal it was feeble in numbers, and destitute of influence until, in 1899, the leading capitalists, failing to come to terms with the Government, so as to secure their private ends, decided to work for a catastrophe, and to involve the Imperial power of Great Britain.

Readers of the Blue-books will perceive how powerfully the League was able to impress the mind of the High Commissioner, and to secure his authoritative approval of 'every possible technicality' which they employed to influence the British Government. This same body of men in Capetown and Johannesburg, figuring now as the South African League, now as the