Tue recent amalgamation of the South African and Unionist parties in South Africa may well be hailed by Britons all over the world with satisfaction. For certainly it is a hopeful sign. This fusion has been a long time in coming, and the story of the events which have led up to it is not without interest.
When Lord Gladstone went out to South Africa in 1910 as Governor-General of the newly formed Union he was called upon to make the fateful choice between the two possible claimants to the Premiership. Mr. Merriman, the veteran Prime Minister of the Cape, might by, reason of his senjority have been considered hold the prior claim, but there can now be no doubt that Lord Gladstone was justified in calling first upon General Botha. It was clear that the latter had the largest following, taking the country as a whole, and he even had the support of leading members of Mr. Merriman's Cabinet. Moreover, he was able to enlist under his banner a, fairly large following
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.