Instead, as very few men could have done, he kept a clear-headed shrewdness, owing to which the Empire most certainly contracted an immense debt of gratitude toward him for not having allowed himself to yield to the temptation of retaliating upon those who had made his task such a particularly hard one.
His forbearance ought never to be lost sight of in judging the circumstances which brought about and attended the South African War.
Whilst the war was going on it was not realised that Sir Alfred Milner was the only man who--when the time arrived--could allay the passions arising from the conflict.

But, without vanity, he knew, and could well afford to wait for his reward until history rather than men had judged him.
In the meanwhile Sir Alfred had to struggle against a sea of obstacles in which he was probably the only man clever enough not to drown himself--a danger which overtook others who had tried to plunge into the complicated politics of South Africa.

A succession of administrators at Government House in Cape Town ended their political career there, and left, broken in spirit, damaged in reputation.
As for the local politicians, they were mostly honest mediocrities or adventurous spirits, who used their influence for their personal advantage.

An exception was Mr.Hofmeyr.But he was far too absorbed in securing the recognition of Dutch supremacy at the Cape to be able to work on the milder plane necessary to bring about the one great result.

The popularity of Mr.Hofmeyr was immense and his influence indisputable; but it was not a broad influence.