It was founded in December 1879 by former Cape Argus editor Patrick McLoughlin, as an outlet for his radical liberal opposition to British imperialism.
Officially, the paper's purpose was to encourage spontaneous unity in southern Africa, to counter the Colonial office's scheme to impose a system of British-ruled confederation on the region.
While McLoughlin served as business manager, he co-edited it with the controversial firebrand Francis Reginald Statham who had been invited to Cape Town especially for this purpose.
At the time, the inclusive Molteno Government had just been overthrown, and British control (in the form of a proposed "Confederation") was being solidified across southern Africa.
In the subsequent murder trial, the farmers were acquitted, and the resulting outrage focused on Attorney General Thomas Upington.