SOUTH AFRICA AND HOME RULE.
[To TEE EDITOR Or T5 "SPECTATOR.") SIR,—The Union of South Africa is being so much quoted by writers and speakers at home as an argument in favour of Home Rule, that it is right the British public should know there is a decided opinion amongst the majority of English and Scotch people here that there is no analogy between Ireland and South Africa, and that the granting of Home Rule would be detrimental to the peace of Europe. While whichever party is in power at home will make but little difference to South Africa, we regard with dismay the attempt to place a loyal Protestant community under the yoke of a Roman Catholic executive. The present writer remembers how, when he was in England, the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon said the thing could never be. The electors have twice voted against it. This Bill, as those preceding it, would hand over the Government of Ireland to the Catholics, only in a more subtle, complex, and expensive form. I observe that Dr. Horton suggests the Protestants should migrate from Ireland; but what have they done ? The Protestant Press of England apparently considers it politically expedient to champion the cause of the Catholics, regardless of all antecedent history. Should not the Protestants of Great Britain, irrespective of party, unite as one man with the Protestants of Ireland and petition the King to command this question to be submitted to the electors, and so prevent the strife and bloodshed which would follow the enactment of this apostate measure?—I Sir, &c., SOUTH AFRICAN PROTESTANT.
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