The different meanings of unity

THE Natal Mercury – under a new editor, Cawthra Woodhead, as John Robinson (now Sir John) had become prime minister of Natal – supported the colony’s attempts to reach a sound relationship with President Kruger’s Transvaal. But the goodwill began to melt away as relations between the Transvaal and Imperial Britain deteriorated.

Early in 1899 The Mercury declared: “The sentiment of unity is applauded wherever it is uttered on some public occasion, no matter whether the speaker be South African Dutch or English. But what the Dutchman means by unity and what the Englishman means are, we fear, very often two entirely different things.

Unity with the Dutchmen means republican unity, whereas unity with the vast majority of Englishmen means a federal unity under the only flag that South Africans can possibly combine under, the Union Jack.

As Boer forces mustered across the northern border and attack became imminent, the tone became distinctly jingoistic.

“Perhaps no better evidence of the splendid spirit which has entered the souls of our Natal citizen soldiers at the present crisis could be extended than the following characteristic telegram which we have received from the Natal Mounted Rifles at Ladysmith. ‘Dusty, thirsty, dirty but cheerful and fit’.

The perusal of such a message should make the veriest ‘Little Englander’ change his sentiments, not to speak of the pessimist who dares to ask: ‘Stands Britain where she did?’

The NMR may be in that condition mentioned but we venture to say that every mother’s son of them is quite prepared to be in a worse plight still for the honour of Old England.”