retrogressiveness

It is that unprogressiveness -- I will not say the retrogressiveness -- of the Government of the Transvaal and its deep suspicion of the intentions of Great Britain which makes it devote its attention to imaginary external dangers, when every impartial observer can see perfectly well that the real dangers which threaten it are internal.

Lord Milner's Work in South Africa From its Commencement in 1897 to the Peace of Vereeniging in 1902 1898