The conferring of the freedom of the city of Manchester
upon four of the Colonial Premiers on Saturday last was the occasion of a remarkable speech by General Botha. General Botha, who was received with very great warmth both in the streets and at the Town Hall, reminded his hearers that he had signed a Treaty in which he renounced in favour of the British Government his flag, his people, and his country's liberty, and that he was, therefore, doubly indebted to the people of England for restoring the freedom of the people of the Transvaal in the shape of responsible government. He wished to assure them that with the aid of God they would use their best endeavours not to make England ashamed of her noble and generous gift to the Transvaal. We gladly take this opportunity of expressing our appreciation of the courage and good feeling of General Botha's speech. It rings absolutely true, and we feel convinced that as long as the Mother-country preserves towards the Transvaal—as she most certainly will preserve—the attitude which she shows to the rest of the self-governing parts of the Empire, General Botha's influence will be cast on the side of Imperial unity.
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