The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-05-24 00:00:00

THE FUTURE OF ZULULAND.

The Tines of Wednesday published the following
Letter :

Sir —Yon have allowed weapon several occasions within the
last few months to express myself upon South African Affairs.
You will permit me now to point out our present position
and future prospects in Zululand, with relation to what we
have done towards subduing the Zulu nation.
It is a very common expression in the popular month
just now that what we want to do is to "break the-Zulu
power." Of this there can be no doubt. But if you ask
now it is to be done you will receive a variety of answers,
each showing how little is known in this country of Zaluland
and the Zulus. There are those who think that enough has
been done already and that hostilities should cease. If this
advice were listened to, we might as well abandon at once our
possessions in that part of the world, for it would then be a
recognized and accepted fact throughout South Africa that
Cetyvvas o had proved too much for us, and no one would
make better capital out of such a position than Cetywayo
himself. There are others who tell you that we must march
to Ulundi, and there, at the King's head-quarters, dictate our
terms to the Zulu monarch. And what terms would they
propose to dictate to him? What single promise is teere
which we could require of him for the better government
of Zululand that he did not make to Mr Shepstotie at his
coronation, and which he openly broke and laughed to acorn
while the wheel-marks of the coronation . expedition were
still fresh upon the Zulu hills?
The real state of the case is this. Up to this time we
have done for Cetywayo in the present struggle, by a
strange paradox, jest what he has most desired from the
day of his accession, but which from that day we have
endeavoured to avert. We have allowed him to "wash
his spears." No Zulu king is worth the name of king in
the tes es of his people until he has done this. It forms the
indispensable confirmation of the otherwise batren act of
king-making, The Zalus never -part with their customs and
traditions. Suggest any reform to a Zulu, h swever might,
recemmend any change to him, however small, and he will
'shake his head and say, " Abadala betu Venal& rijalo "
("our fathers did so ")—an answer equivalent to tae
Papal non possumus As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, is a fundamental principle of Zulu govern-
ment.
Has not Cetywayo again and again since the year 1873
begged the Natal Government to be allowed to go out and
attack somebody in order to consummate his appointment to
the Zulu throne? Have not his young warriors, the strength
and power of his army, been thirsting for six years for this
seal upon their master's authority, which alone enables them
to gain his consent to marry?
His first request to Mr. Shepstone was that he might
attack his old enemies to the west, the Bens. But that
could not be, for the Boers were white men, alai they could
not be attaeked without the other white men in South
Africa coming to their help. Then, might it be his here-
ditary enemies to the north, the Amaswazi 1 But the
Amaswazi were the allies of the Boers, and to touch the
Amaswazi was to touch the Boers. So Cetywayo was shut
up like a caged lion, and, like a caged lion, was vary furious,
for he found that be had none of the power but only the
form of a lion left him—a poor, powerless, puppet king, a
mere tool in the hands of the British Government the
longer the Zulu lion was thus confined within the limits of
his own den, the more increasingiy evident it became to
him that if tie was ever to be really a king in the eyes of his
people by "washing his spears, ' it could only be in the
blood of his keeper, and his overbearing insolence ripened
rapidly towards us.
What he has effected has been purchased at little cost to
himself. He is now in a far higher, stronger, and better
position in the eyes of his people than before—a greater man,
a greater king, a more absolute power than ever in his coun-
try. Thus we have sot the seal in the most effectual manner
possible to Mr. Shepstone's act in 1873. Nay, more, he is
a greater King now than even Chaka, Dingaan, or Panda, for
has he not done what they never dreamt of daring to do—
has he not "washed his spears 'in English blood?
As to any injury that we have dons Cetywavo in the pre-
sent war, we have done him none at all. His sole wealth
lies in his crops and his cattle. We have allowed him to
gather in the former, and have shown ourselves incapable of
depriving him of the latter. As to our having killed a certain
number of his warriors, he is little the worse for that. He
loses many under ordinary circumstances every year; some
by massacre at his own order, others by flight into Natal.
Against any such loss in men must be placed his enormous
gain in arms and ammunition taken from us at Isandlana
It Makes one acquainted with Zululand and the Zulus smile
to read of Colonel Wood's force "dealing serious blows "
upon Cetywayo's power by burning the kraals in his country.
What is a kraal? A number of huts like big bee-hives, made
of sticks and grass, dozens of which can be run up again in a
few days.
I once made a considerable hole in the top of one of thos
.gigantic clay ant-heaps, which are so familiar to all African
travellers, in order to mask the site of a proposed building.
When I went with the builder next day the ant-heap was
as perfect as ever. The only way to stop the doings of thesis
Zulu ants with whom we are now contending is to extermi-
nate them. Far be it from us to do so. I grieve for each of
those splendia warriors who falls in the present strife. I
have an affection for those fine and noble fellows as sincere
as my antipathy is sincere to the false and cruel tyrant who
misgoverns them.
With our European ideas, to talk of marching hit° the
capital of a country and there to dictate terms ta the ruler
of that country sounds very great and very terrible, but we
most divest our minds of any such meaning conves ad by
those words in dealing with a Zulu King in hie Zulu " capi-
tal." If our forces were iii Ulundi to-day and Cety wayo
our prisoner, whet should we do with either, and what would
either be the worse for our presence there? Cety wayo would
promise us everything we asked, as a matter of course,
and would regard his promises about as much, and as long,
as those he made in 1873. Or we might depose him and
look for another King of Zululand. But where should we
find another likely to be able, or willing, to rule Zululand
otherwise than it has been ruled for generations past? I
know most of Cetywayo's brothers personally, aud all of
them by repute; and it would, in ray opinion, lead to
Increased and more hopeless complications to attempt such
a course. Cetywayo's party and the new king's party
would be at endless variance, and we should soon find that
we had made the last state ot Zululand worse—if that were
possible—than the first.
Lord Carnarvon spoke wise and weighty words when he
aszei us the other (ley not to let the South African question
" drift." If we do, we shall do so to our cost. There is
me, and only one solution to the Zulu difficulty, and that
solution lies in our government of the country. It will be
to the highest anal beat interests of the Zulus themselves to
do 80, arid would be a step which they will readily and
thankfully accept,
While Zululand is allowed to exist as at present it will
be a standing menance to us, a never-ceasing source of
anxiety, alarm, and danger not only to Natal and the
Transvaal, but to all South Africa. In our hands, not a
dog would dare to move its tongue against us. We should
hold in Zululaed the key of the soushera portion of the
continent Zuruland is the last and strongest hold of native
power and crike,ty in South Africa, the possession of which
Qould assure the Undisputed, pararnoant autOority of the
British 'tower over all races add tribes from Cape Towu 0
tea ZUDluti.
ONE WHO LIVED SEVERAL YEARS IN
Way 15. ZIIIXLAND,
•

TESTIMONIAL TO MR. SPITRGEON.

The testimonial to Mr. Spurgeon on the occasion of
his having completed the twenty-fifth year of his pas-
torate, which was partly subscribed for in money by
members of his church and congregation and other ad-
mirers, and partly raised by means of a bazaar,
was formally presented to him in the Metropolitan
Tabernacle, the scene of his labours, on Tuesday
evening. Previous to assembling in the Taber-
nacle, the donors, or rather such of them as
could find a place at the crowded tables, took tea
together in the lecture-hall and school-room below,
and then adjourned into the Tabernacle, and after
they were seated the doors were thrown open, and the
large building was speedily filled from area to ceiling,
so that not even standing room waG left unocctspied.
The proceedings commenced with prayer, kffered by
the Rev. James Spurgeon, the co-pastor, and the sing-
ing of a hyinn, after which
Mr. Parr, one of the deacons, read a paper in which he re-
viewed the work of the Church at the Tabernacle from the
time when Ur Spurgeon fir t joined it, ati s first locale in
Park-street, near Southwark-blidge, in the autumn of 1.53,
when he was only 19 years old, and showed how its agencits
in various departments of Church work had multiplied, and
how its numbers had increased until they now amounted to
more than 5,000.
The Rev. J. T. Wigner, who attended at a deputation
from the committee of the London Baptists' Association,
read a letter from that body on behalf of the 150 churches in
connection with it, in radon they added their _ congratula-
tions to the many that would be offered on this auspicious
occasion.

The Rev. Dr. Stanford then read a If per "On the Baptist
Churches of twenty-fire years azo and now," the object of
which was to show the wonderful increase which had taken
place. Twenty-five years ago the church mernin-rs in their
union were 85,245, to-day they numbered 276,348. In the
same period the children in the Sunday schools had in-
creased from 106,711 to 899,817, and the teachers from
14,600 to 40,216. As to chapel building, no particu-
lars were collected before 1864; but within the last
thirteen years in England alone they had expended
£1,026,000 in the erection of chapels, thus provioing an
increase of about 170,000 sitting'. If, he said, he were to
attempt to give a fair statement of the influence which Mr.
Spurgeon had had an their denominational growth it would
be necessary to speak volumes. One would be wanted to
show his influence on the churches through the Press and
to trace it as conveyed througu the many institutions Of the
Tabernacle, and another to follow out the workings of the
Pastor's college.
Mr. Spurgeon here relieved the proceedings—the papers
bein4 very long--by requesting the choir toeing the Anthem,
"Grace 'tis a charming sound," observing that he recollected
reading an account of a conversation between a High
Churchman and a Presbyterian minister who had been to a
church service. The Churchman akked the Presbyterian
minister if he liked the introit. "No," he replied, "I don't
know what an introit is." "But did not you enjoy the
anthem ?" "No, I did not enjoy it at all." "I am very sorry
you did not," said the Churchman, because it was used in
the early Church; in fact, it was originally sung by David."
"Ah I" said the old Presbyterian, "then that explains
Scripture. I can understand now, If David sung it in that
tune, why Saul threw his je velin at him." (Loud laughter.)
This was not the tune which David sang, but it had man
more music in it.

The hymn was then sung, after which Mr. William Olney,
the Senior Deacon and treasurer to the fund, made a short
address in which he spoke of the generosity and self-abnega-
tion of Mr. Spurgeon citing many Instances, one of which
was his taking on himself the incidental expenses of the
chapel three months after he j 'hied them at Park-street, and
wh,ch he had deft, yed ever since; another was his handing
over to them the sum of £5,000,. the proceeds of the
charges made for admission when he preached at Exeter
Hall and the'Surrey Music Hall, all of which belonged to
himself. And for many years past he had given back in differ-
ent ways every farthing he had received for preaching at the
Tabernacle, and he was going to do the same with this testi-
monial, though they had requested him to keep it for him-
self. The largest subscription to the testimonial was £250,
but they had received pence, and even farthings from per.;
Sons desifous of showing their affection for their pastor.
The total amount was £6,233, £6,000 of which was invested
in the names of T. H. Olney and Thomas Greenwood, as
trustees, and the remainder was in the bank, and it was now !
at the absolute disposal of Mr. Spureon.
Mr. J. Spurgeon said Mr. Olney had forgotten the clock
with its bronze ornaments, which he hoped his brother would
keep till they celebrated his jubilee. (Cheers)

Mr. Spurgeon then rose, the whole assemblage rising
albo, and, waving hats and handkerchiefs, cheered
him again and again. He said he thanked them very
heartily for the testimonial. He hoped they would
not consider that he should not take it and make use
of it personally, for he should—and maze use of it in
this way. He should apply £5,000 of it as an endow-
ment for the almswomen. Except what had been
expended on a clock with handsome bronze orna-
ments, which he should be glad to preserve
as a remembranc of the affection of his people,
he proposed to devote the rest to various
objects connected with the Church. He meant to give
£lOO to his wife's book fund for poor ministers, and
£lOO he should give away to poor ministers, and £5O
would be put away viith another £5O which Mrs, Hild-
yard had sent to start a fund fur an orphanage for
girls. Many persons wrote to him for loans of £lOO
or more, supposing that he was a rich man. He never
was a rich man, and never should be. He did not
think he had any temptation to pride, for he knew
that if he indulged in pride his Master would give
him a wigging behind the door to take the conceit
out of him. The tie that existed between him and
them was not like that of a professional connection.
His deacons and elders were his brothers. They did
not speak of him as "the reverend gentleman," but
he was profanely called "the governor." (Laughter.)
He loved them with all his heart, and went on pregch.
log the Gospel, and there was no reason why he should
not go on preaching the Gospel, for he did not know
anything else. He thanked his dear friends who had
read the ps.pers, and thanked everybody. (Chevy.)
Another hymn was then sung, and the proceedings
terminated.

PROPOSED MONUMENTS TO MAJOR
ANDRE AND CAPTAIN HALE.

The American correspondent of The Times writes :
Various Americans having proposed to erect a monu-
ment in New York to Major Andre, the English
residents of this country in a kindred spirit are pro-
posing a monument to Captain Nathan Hale. At the
anniversary banquet on St. George's Day, April 23,
of the Society of the Sons of St. George at Bridge.
port, Connecticut, the following was unanimously
adopted :
"Whereas Cyrus W. Field, a distinguished American
citizen, proposes to erect a monument to Major Andre, who
was executed as a British spy in the war of tne Revotution,
and whereas, being native Englishmen, we desire to show
our appreciation of this liberal and magnanimous act, and
whereas Captain Nathan Hale, of Connecticut, the American
Andre, was executed as an American spy by the British in
the same war ; therefore resoive, that the St. George
Society at Bridgeport, Connecticut, hereby offer to contri-
bute the sum of 50 dols towards the erection in New York
city of such a monument to Nathan Hale as shall be worthy
of him as a martyr to the cause he espoused, and we respect-
fully would suggest to our sister societies throughout the
Union a like contribution on their part to the same object,
to the end that justice be done to the memory of a gallant
officer, and the amicable relations between this and the
mother country be thus formally recognized and more fully
established."

[illaji';'r, Anal-4, as many of our readers are doubt-
lessly aware, was aide-de-camp to the. British general,
Sir Henry Clinton, during the campaign of 1780, in the
war with America; and, having been male the medium
of some delicate negotiations with General Arnold, of
the American army, was captured by the enemy, and
condemned and hung as a spy, on October 2, 1780, to
the grief and indignation of his fellow ountrymen.]