THE CAPE DUTCH.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I was greatly surprised to read the accusation in your editorial note of last week that I had unfairly attacked a man incapable of defending himself. If, when I received your permission to address the letter to you, I had had the slightest notion that this was your view, I should have re- minded you of the well-known fact that Sir A. Milner, from his journalistic antecedents, has had exceptional opportunities of putting his case, and has had that case treated by most of the leading papers with marked sympathy. And, of course, he has defended himself, like all other Governors, by his own despatches, and through the months of Ministers. But I was still more taken aback at being accused by you of having "cared to use a back-stair charge" against him, because in my letter as originally addressed to you I was careful to expressly state that the facts on which I based my criticisms "were to be found in Parliamentary Reports, Blue-books, and Papers open to the public." It is true that this statement did not appear in my letter as published ; but that was because, in obedience to an imperative request for greater brevity marked by you on the proof sent to me, I eliminated the sentence containing it. I leave it to your readers to judge whether, under such circumstances, you were justified in saying what you did about me.—I am, Sir, &c.,
FREDERIC MACEARNESS.
[Mr. Mackarnesa was free to make any excisions he chose, and we cannot be held responsible for his choice. But even if the passage he quotes had not been cut out by him in order to shorten his letter, it would not have affected our judgment of his charge, which judgment was not based upon the general statements in his letter, but solely on the following words :— "The most frequent and intimate visitor at Government House was the editor of the chief opposition paper, and the leaders of the South African League were welcome." In what "Parliamentary Reports, Blue-books, or Papers" is that statement to be found ?—Eh. Spectator.]
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