The Jubilee Darkies’ Visit.

Waipawa Mail, Volume X, Issue 1034, 15 January 1887, Page 2

The Jubilee Darkies’ Visit.

An Interview with Mr Loudon.

At the time when the Jubileo singers were in the neighborhood we were favored by a visit from their leader, Mr F. J. Loudon, who is an intelligent and affable gentleman. The vast period to which he has been subjected has naturally widened his views, and we can assure our readers that many a white American falls very far short of Mr Loudon’s capabilities, both as a speaker and a thinker. When asked how he liked the perpetual life of travel, Mr Loudon replied in the same careless way that all travellers reply to that question, implying that lie liked it very little, but was prepared to put up with it so long as the circumstances of his life rendered it necessary or desirable that he should. But the most interesting topic of conversation with this distinguished visitor was evidently that on which he enlarged somewhat fully at Waipukurau on the Wednesday evening, viz., the enlightment of the inferior races of mankind. This subject of course recommended itself in the first instance on account of its special interest and importance in the States, both at the time of slavery, at the subsequent period of emancipation, and at the present day. But having travelled in other countries besides his own Mr Loudon naturally finds his interest in the education question extending to other aboriginal races besides Iris own. And whilst in New Zealand, he made good use of his opportunities both to become acquainted with Maori character and to express his views on the manner in which he considered they should be treated in regard to education. Mr Loudon made a great point of tlie ignorance in which the slaves of America used to be kept, previous to their emancipation. lie maintained, and rightly, ns any one can see for himself, that if a race of individuals is to be kept in subjugation, it must not be educated. So soon as the enlightenment of knowledge comes upon the mind, the wills that used to bend to the yoke before rise in fierce opposition, and demand that freedom which is enjoyed by the rest of mankind.

In America, the negroes were carefully kept in the darkest ignorance, and those of them who rose difl so by stealth, by steuing bits of knowledge unbeknown to their white masters and tyrants. One instance was quoted by Mr Loudon, of a slave, now well-known, picking up knowledge from the young master whom he used to accompany to and from the school. This slave was afterwards granted his freedom, and is now one of the finest lecturers of the day, white or black. Mr Loudon is a little weak on the subject of the natives of New Zealand. He candidly stated that he and his party looked upon the Maoris with the greatest interest and affection, for he regarded them as brothers and sisters, as members of the great race of colored people of which he and his friends were themselves members. This was well enough ; but Mr Loudon forgets the very marked difference between the Maoris and the American negroes. The latter are clever, and above all they are not lazy or indolent. They are frugal and industrious, and easily settle down amongst the whites, and in the great majority of cases, as their subordinates. What a contrast to the natives of New Zealand ? These poor creatures are still in the last stage of savagery, it is true ; that is to say they have not yet reached the same condition of advancement which the American negroes have reached, their experience with the whites having ouly extended over a comparatively short time. This is a strong claim for some allowance being made in the comparison, of course. But even then, they must take a very obscure position. They will not work ; they live in a lazy luxury, their indolence being only equalled by their extravagance. In natural attainments, they are equally behind their American cousins. What colonial can imagine a band of Maoris singing the lovely melodies and part songs which the Jubilee singers render? A wild war dance is about the acme of Maori entertainments, as yet, and it is an entertainment that cannot be said to speak much either for the abilities or the moral enlightenment of the performers. It would be ridiculous to compare the two classes of entertainment together in the same breath.

But even when the Americans were slaves, and their advance and capabilities were harassed by the cruel afflictions of their state, even then, they shewed unmistakable signs of a future progress and distinction that has since been realised. The songs which we hear and admire so to-day, were composed then. The religious feeling which prompted the composition of those songs existed in those days, ns well as now. John Brown was hung for treason in those daj’s, not now. Ail, in fact, that was notorious in the history of the Americans negroes took place at a time when tlieir advancement was really pretty well as piimitive as that of the Maoris of the present day. However, it is excusable in Mr Loudon to err in the direction of a kind philanthropy, and it speaks well for him and his troupe that they were not ashamed of tlieir less educated brethtrn, and were not too proud to confess they they too were once but unenlightened negroes. It is all very well to talk of educating the Maori. Surely the whites are placing no restrictions on tho advancement of the native race in that direction. Only tho other day we published a report of a local school, (that of Kaikora) at which two native girls’ names figure amongst those of tho whites,' as prize winners in tlieir class. In other districts, (and in this one as well,) there are schools devoted entirely to the training of Maoris. As to the latter, we are inclined to think that as the natives become more and more mxed up with whites, they will prefer to have tlieir children Anglicized by attending iwliite state schools instead of those establishments which are set apart entirely for the education of the natives. However, tho fact that these institutions exists proves that the whites are not harrassing the natives in any way, or intentionally keeping them in a state of darkness.

At any rate it is always well when an intelligent foreigner visits a country, never mind in what capacity, as Mr Loudon has. The views which they express at different times, before educated audiences, are sure to have some beneficial effect. And as the leader of the band of Jubilee singers is undoubtedly in earnest in his regard for the natives of New Zealand, he may rest assured that his casual references to their condition and probable future must have a great and lasting effect, both on the natives themselves, and on the people who are now their betters, but who treat them as equals, in tlie best fashion that a democracy can make the strongest lenient and forbearing towards the weakest.