13 JANUARY 1900, Page 3

The Daily News of Wednesday contains a striking letter from

Mr. Charles Phillips, the Congregational minister of Johannesburg. Speaking of the ministers of the Free Churches in the Transvaal, he points out that their material interests were all on the side of peace. "And yet (and in this we may include Episcopalians) there is in reality no dis- sentient voice among us." They all believe, he continues, that whatever the defects in our diplomacy it did not cause the war, and that there has been a persistent preparation for the present conflict. "'Africa for the Afrikandere '; a United D atoll Republic from the Zambesi to the Cape ; the exclusion of the English from South Africa ; that," continues Mr. Phillips, "is the true explanation and the true inwardness of our present conflict." We do not believe that this was the dream of the majority of the Cape Dutch, but we do believe that a great Dutch Republic, founded on the wealth of the Transvaal, was the dream of the two Republics. We commend Mr. Phillips's letter to those who think that the only Outlanders who felt the grievances in Johannesburg were a few capitalists.