WHITE v. BLACK.
THE NATIVE PROBLEAI IN SOUTH AFRICA.
"Uitlander," writing in the Melbourne "Argue," Baye that the difficulty in Natal bears a cfloeo resemblance to many other similar experiences in the history of South African, settlement. Passing from 1651, when Jan Anthony var* Rebek took possession of Table Bay, to •the early years of lasfc.cen.tury—a period of constant struggle with tfie coloured races—dissatisfaotioa with I>awning street culminated in 1834. The Geelekas, under Hintza, had raided tSie border, carrying terror and deaith into the homes of the astonished aad unoffending seittlens. After several months 1 fighting peace wae restored, ;bwt any permanent benefit that would Q*ave been derived from, it wae destroyed by a despatch from itihe Secretary of State for the Colonies (Lord Gleneftg), in •which* it was maintained that the conduct of t<he colonists (had amply j>jstified the Kaffirs in rushing into Tvar. Rather than submit ito eudb, dictation many of tho Capo ooloniists decided to emigrate. The result wae the annexation of Natal, and subsequently of the Transvaal. But the "Great Trek," as it was cadjpd, was accompanied by deeds of horror and bloodshed. Qhaka, the Zulu chief, whoee craving for blood is said to have led to till© slaughter of over one million natives, had been succeeded by Dingaan. He received the wandenere from Cape Colony w-vtlh, apparent kindness, but, under the pretence of a 6ham fight, he caus&d the -whole party to 'be treacherously seized and to be savagely putt to death. Itotriliitoon followed, and in 1838 Dingaan's empis were eignally defeated by the "Voartrekkers.' r In 1840, tbe Gaika chief, Sandiila, Tested his strength against tho Cape Colony. The usual Kaffir methods of massacre and outrage were resorted to, and it was not until 1853 tihait peace was restored. Interference again/ followed on the part of the Home Governiment, and great discontent was caused by the recall of Sir George Grey. It is unnecessary to dwell upon the Biaeuto war, the Swazi war, or tlho &eaxe fight in Zululand; these are all comparatively rocenit, aad ordy require mention to complete the history' of tih© long struggle for tho supremacy of whito rule. In the period which has been covered there have been endless other patty wans, many of wfeich were, it is said in SoutSi Africa, directly or inditreotfly, caused by the uncalled for and aignonant interference of the Home authorities.
One cf the most alarming features of the situation as the over-increasing preponderance of natives over Europeans. Ira the oM days tribal wars kept down tfhe native population. Ghaka, if ho deemed Ihinaseif injured by either a rival tribe, ctr iby, one of own. chiefs, had a radical way of assorting ibis supremacy. The entire triibe, or the foMowing of the offendting cQiief, was "wiped out" by ttiis impas; men, women, and children were afike done to death; not one was left. Means of were unknown; entire trilbes were often swept «way by eicknees. AH -Uiis is noiv changed; there are no tribal wars, and the death-rete through sickness has become normal. What has ireeudltedP The black race ftouth of the Zambesi has increased ito four and & half millions, and tine MuLte population is littJe over one million.
Ajmang3fc th© majority of tihcee w3io know South Africa / a consensuß of opinion, wili 'bo found upon a very important point. The South African n<astivo, accustomed hemiself to primitive methods of dealing out justice, does not understand leniency. He knows when he is doing wrong, and he expects to be punished. Leniency represent .to his mind wealnw'SE', and a weakness of whioh immediate advarat&ge »s to to taken. Of late yeare a new danger lias epnmig up. Native leaders, mos.tly halfeduoaffced "Cape 'boys," have travelled, through the native districts preadhlng the doctrine tlh«t "unity is strengh," ami it'he old racial influences which formerly, by developing tribal differences, made for the security of the white popiv kitaon, are becoming lew and less patent.
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Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12477, 12 April 1906, Page 7
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657WHITE v. BLACK. Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12477, 12 April 1906, Page 7
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