As  Mr.  Labouchere  reminds  us,  "  A  letter  was  put  in  during  the
Jameson  Raid  Committee,  written  by  a  leading  capitalist  to  Mr.  Beit,
in  which  the  writer  explained  that  none  of  the  conspirators  really
cared  for  the  franchise,  but  wanted  an  alteration  in  the  mining  laws
in  their  favour."  Nor  is  this  wonderful  when  it  is  remembered  that
the  acceptance  of  the  franchise  meant,  as  it  means  everywhere
throughout  the  civilised  world,  the  abandonment  of  one's  own
nationality.  ^

Beyond  these  definite  grievances,  none  of  which,  as  we  have  said,
can  be  held  to  justify  the  war,  there  was  what  may  be  best  described
.as  the  system  of  "  pin- pricks."  The  Boer  is  not  the  most  highly
cultured  of  mankind,  and  he  retains  those  primitive  notions  upon
manners  which,  in  England  and  more  civilised  countries,  are
confined,  with  few  exceptions,  to  the  schoolboy  and  the  lowest
classes.
On  the  other  hand,  the  Englishman  abroad  is,  generally  speaking,
•gauche^  when  he  is  not  rude,  and  walks  the  world  with  one  set
conviction — viz.,  that  of  his  own  superiority  and  the  superiority  of
everything  professing  to  be  British.
