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The Psychology of Jingoism

ordinary private matter of importance the testimony of interested parties, unchecked and incapable of cross-examination, as sufficient evidence to warrant the spending of his money and the risking of his life. Yet the testimony to the Outlander grievances and the Dutch conspiracy given as the justification of this war is almost entirely of this order. The allegation that the press of South Africa, which has furnished information to the press and people of this country, is owned and controlled by a small, known and named body of mining capitalists and speculators who have openly avowed the gains they hoped to make by this war, is not seriously disputed. Yet persons fully aware of this allow their minds to be swayed by the unanimity of the British testimony from South Africa, as presented by this press and by the politicians who have got their information from the same factory of falsehood.

These same persons close their minds to the remnant of the so-called 'pro-Boer' press in this country, and to the entire continental press, upon the plea that this press has been bought by Transvaal money – a plea which has no other origin than the statement of the above-named Rhodesian press.

Educated men and women, accustomed to

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