SIR BARTLE FRERE ON THE CAUSES OF THIS ZULU WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 8, 19 September 1879, Page 2

SIR B ARTLE FRERE O N THE CAUSES OF THIS ZULU WAR.

: — ♦ • At a banquet given at Capotown in honor of Siv Uarile I'Yere, his Excellency <nade the following 1 speech iv defence of his conduct in reference to the Zulu war : — When I weut to Natal I found a great differenco of opinion as to the state of affairs in existence. There were prophets of evil and men who prophesied smooth things, but I felt convinced that they were all living on. the brink of a volcano. Eveiy part of that couutry seemed in imminent danger of a horrible war, owing to arising of thenative race. Ie has been said that my conclusions were hastily form d, but I would ask those wuo have studied the Zulus' character and history, whether their conviction has not been for years past that the position of the Natal colonists was one of extreme peril. I have ho u'd the same opiuiou expressed by people from Canada and Australia, who gave it as their reason for objecting to Natal as a field for emigration on this very account. What I. saw there -convinced me of what I had lonjj before been toll, viz., that the condition of our fellow colonists was based on an extremely hazardous foundation. Everything I suw and heard pointed to the same conclusion, that throughout the whole of South Africa -a movement originating with the Zulus had, stirred the hearts of the whole of '* the native population. All they wanted was some movoment to briny about i. the supremacy of the black race~*fc and the expulsion of the Europeans. The'^p measures we took were taken with the most careful consideration. Our measuies were strictly directed to defence, and it appeared to us quite impossible to defend the Natal border with the forces in the Colony. It was only by cairying the war at once into the enemy's country, by posting columns within the enemy's borders, by meeting them on their own ground, that wo could ' proven tan invasion of this kiud. This 13 my justification for the act which you have been pleased to-day to confirm. I feel convinced that when our countrymen at home — even including the critics — como to look at this business in the light of history, they will say that <ye did m inorevilian was necessary for the safely of this "Colony. Perhaps the verdict will not come in my time. AH history points to similar cases of men who have done the>ir best, and who have received justice only long after they. were dead. This is what has sustained mo in what has passed, and I am sure that no soldier of the Queen has hitherto been employed except for defence I might refer to my commission. When I came to these shores aB High Commissioner I was to take all measures for preventing aDy irruption / in bo her M-ijesty's possessions by hostile / tribes, and maintaining peace and safety, L This was my charge. I haV£ no power to" "y muko peace or declare war?' I have power simply to defend the colon}', and to soo that no irrupticn takes' place. I think I may refer to what has since occurred. Notwithstanding the disasters,, we have met with, I think I may refer to the fact that although there has been no difficulty in crossing the boundary, her Majesty's possessions are still intact from any hostile foe. I think when these matters are calmly judged in the light of history they will moro than justify Lord Chelmsford'a strategy. They will moife than compensate for all the disaster that has happened. Home down as we were by overwhelming numbers, wo have still preserved our fellow-colonists in peace and safety. It has been said that I was precipitate in what I did, and that the King of the Zulus, hid some other course been adopted, might not havo used the power which he possessed. What that power was however, wo have seen only too distinctly' sjand wo have seen also how he can use it. € do not judge from mere surmise, but from the acts of Cetewayo himself for the last eighteen months. He had repeatedly stated that his power was founded on blood, and that it was necessary for the maintenance of that power that he should be unrestrained in his ability to slay his subjects and raid on other people. Ho had asked for leave to wash spears in white men's blood, and I knew it was impossible for him to do so without killing Brjfaiilr-. subjects, and those who had allied themselves with us for protection. I wonld ask you, in the name of common sense and prudence, was ii to bo ivlied upon that he should not use the enormous power which he possessed? Was it possible for our fellow-colonists to live in that trust, bloodthirsty as this man professed, and powerful as he know himsslf to bo ? Gould they rest on the reliance that ho would belie • his own statements, and that he would live as a humune and well-meanjwjL-ui. Prince, and abstain from acts of bloody ■ aggression, which are the mainstay of the Zulu nation ? I could not, at all events, so persuade myself , and believing, as I did in" my heart, that this danger must be surmounted, I thought no risk too great as compared with the paramount duty of doing my best to protect her Majesty's subjects. I say, then, this first principle is that it is our duty as far as possible to ensure tho ueourity and eafety of all her Majesty's subr jects. The next principle which underlios : -i the policy to which I think you refer is -U that when Native tribfls come in contact with Europeans there should be a distinct v ideratauc'ing whether £u-:oj&au ideas or t

whtfrtjcr Native ideas are to ruin. I nctii 1 X Ji^^juter into this. You know that suci t-^ Apples of government as we live uncle nuj^yinboliscd by the Crown ; whereas tli Zciu rule i^ symbolised by die assegai, would ask you whether tho Crown or th assegai is to be the symbol of government They cannot co exist. We must make ou ■ choice. I need not,remind you that wherever the Crown is in supremacy. thi>l«M must be supreme. You havo yone mud further in this country than in fti:y otho colony in Sou-h AfrieS, but this hiss"*o been all done at once- It took sjme*tim to build up the constitutional edifice unde which we live, and I only trust that tr ah all take the constitution and<thej,tenden cies of (his colony as a model for the rest o South Africa. I wonld ask you, gentlemen "whether this is any new policy ? It i& i traditional policy.