Native Races and the War eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 172 pages of information about Native Races and the War.

Native Races and the War eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 172 pages of information about Native Races and the War.
It is this very equality which has upset his calculations, by its leaving too few malcontents among the Dutch population to make any general rising of them possible in Natal or the Cape, on which rising Kruger staked his hope of success in the struggle.  As for the Transvaal Boers, the only part they have in the war is to fight for their independence, which was never threatened until they invaded British territory, and thus compelled the Queen’s Government to defend it.

“The only alternative left to England to refuse fighting would have been the ground that all war is wrong; but as neither England nor any other nation has ever taken this Christian ground, there was in reality no alternative.  Is it fair to stigmatise England as endeavouring to crush two small and weak nations because they have been so small in wisdom and weak in common sense as to become the tools of the daring and crafty autocrat who has decoyed both friend and foe into this war?—­I am, with high esteem, thy friend,—­JOHN BELLOWS.”

It does not come within the scope of this treatise to deal with the case of the Uitlanders, but I have given the foregoing, because it is a clear and concise statement of that case, and because it expresses the strong conviction that I and many others have had from the first, that the worst enemy the Boers have is their own Government.  A Government could scarcely be found less amenable to the principles of all just Law, which exists alike for Rulers and ruled.  These principles have been violated in the most reckless manner by President Kruger and his immediate supporters.  The Boers are suffering now, and paying with their life-blood for the sins of their Government.  Pity and sympathy for them, (more especially for those among them who undoubtedly possess higher qualities than mere military prowess and physical courage,) are consistent with the strongest condemnation of the duplicity and lawlessness of their Government.

* * * * *

The Rev. Charles Phillips, who has been eleven years in South Africa, has given his opinion on the native question.

It was part of the Constitution of the Transvaal that no equality in Church or State should be permitted between whites and blacks.  In Cape Colony, on the contrary, the Constitution insisted that there should be no difference in consequence of colour.  Mr. Phillips enumerates the oppressive conditions under which the natives live in the Transvaal.  They may not walk on the sidepaths, or trade even as small hucksters, or hold land.  Until two years ago there was no marriage law for the blacks, and that which was then passed was so bad—­a L3 fee being demanded for every marriage, with many other difficulties placed in the way of marriage—­that the missionaries endeavoured to procure its abolition, and to return to the old state of things.  No help is given towards the education of native children, though the natives pay 3 per cent. of the revenue,

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Native Races and the War from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.