The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-19 00:00:00

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LONDON, TVEDNESDAY, SEPT. 19, 1866.

So much misconception exists as to the character
of the negro that it is satisfactory to meet with any
details from one who is well acquainted with his
style and characteristics. As a general rule, we
may be sure that those who make the most pro-
fessions of faith on behalf of the negro are really
ignorant, or at all events partially so, of what is
the actual state of the case. The letter which Sir
SAMUEL BAKER has addressed to the Times on the
subject is well worthy of attention, and contains
much to arrest notice at this particular juncture. 'We
are glad, indeed, to meet with so able an expositor of
matters which interest all, and we are sure that no
one can peruse this letter without being enlightened,
unless they are so wilful and prejudiced that no one
can convince them of their error. How true is the
passage at the commencement, which states that in
England there "is a general misconception of the
negro, and this ignorance of his character and capa-
bilities has engendered a sympathy for the African
race, that, arising front pure philanthropy, has
degenerated into a fashionable weakness." The
consequence of this misconception is that
the intellectual standard of the black man
is raised to that of the white one, and
things are confused to such an extent that it is
difficult to discern what is true from what is false.
It is time, indeed, that these fallacies should be ex-
posed, and that those who are well acquainted with
the subject should express their indignation and
astonishment at the audacious way in which those
who know nothing of the negro declare their opi-
nions. The rebellious negroes of Jamaica receive
pity and sympathy, -while no sorrow whatever is
expressed for the unfortunate white victims of their
fury, and the opinion of the inhabitants of the
colony saved from ruin is set at nought by these
philanthropists, while they devote themselves to the
persecution of the man who presumed to cope with
them and prevent their murderous designs from
being put into execution.

There is much to dwell upon in the descriptions
here given of the negro ; and, first of
all, we may
note that a limit is assigned to his intellectual caps_
city, as the mind has reached the maximum of its
power at the early age of fourteen. T •
hi s may
account for much that is found wanting in the sub-
sequent career of the negro, as he does not
receive impressions that may affect a more
matured intellect, but remains, to all in-
tents and purposes, in an unfinished state as
compared to a superior race. The indolence of
the negro is another very noticeable fact, and may
account for much that surprises the uninitiated in
his course of proceeding. The negro is also fickle
to an extraordinary degree, and as he is always
willing to act"
„upon impulse, and yield • to any

powerful persuader, he becomes truly dangerous on
certain occasions, and when subjected to improper
influences. There is much to account for the mis-
chief caused in Jamaica by the addresses
of seditious leaders, when we consider the
statements made by one of experience. " I
would engage by a single address to stir up a tribe
of negroes in Africa to any act of atrocity on the
impulse of the moment; but to restrain them when
once aroused would be as impossible as to curb
hyenas." The great danger that existed in Jamaica
is here well explained—namely, that it was impos-
sible for the negroes to be trusted when they believe
the white man to be the oppressor, because the
white men are few in number. After stating that
a negro outbreak is like a fire in a prairie, that anni-
hilates all in its path, there is no mercy, nothing
but wild destruction, the writer forcibly adds that
the negro is a weapon in the hands of his teacher.
" If he is a creature of mad impulse, that can be
directed to any purpose, the evil teacher is as re-
sponsible for the evil committed as the hand that
directs the dagger." If these truths could sink
deeper into the minds of readers surely they
would be better able to appreciate the immi-
nent peril of the inhabitants of Jamaica at
the period of the outbreak, and also the deep
culpability of those who fanned the flame of rebel-
lion among the ignorant and perverse blacks.
" What was Governor EYRE'S position" ? asks the
writer of this conclusive document when he reaches
this part of his discussion. It was no European
outbreak that was before him, but a negro rebellion.
A small white population was under his care, and
" murder, fire, and annihilation assailed them."
Where, then, was the time, and where the oppor-
tunity for stopping at trifles, and studying English
jurisprudence and dwelling on " legal technicali-
ties," when every moment was precious, and all
depended upon speed and decision of purpose.
The Governor proclaimed " martial law," and the
" teacher," the hand that held the dagger, GORDON,
was executed. A violent disease, replies one who
knows the bearings of the case, and so have all who
were acquainted with the case said before him ; but
how many ignorant persons have presumed to differ
on the point ? One question of great import is here
put—namely, what was the amount of life sacrificed
compared with what would have occurred if the
energetic measures alluded to had not been
adopted by the Governor ? And the answer
must be evident to all that months instead of days
would have been occupied by the outbreak, and far
greater sufferings would have been occasioned. It
is simply and forcibly stated here that in times of
danger and excitement, when brute force is resorted
to, some acts are necessarily committed that will
not bear the close scrutiny of those who investigate
them from a distance some time afterwards; but
such events are seldom or ever paraded before the
public to " defame " a man who has done his best
under trying circumstances. From his experience
of negroes Sir SAMUEL BAKER declares his
belief that Governor EYRE saved the white
inhabitants of Jamaica by a " stern exercise
of force ;" but this fact is doubted by many
in England, on account of the popular belief that
the negro differs in nothing but the colour of his
skin, whereas the " tiger and the horse are not
more widely different in their natures."
Finally, the writer concludes by declaring that
he should not have made these remarks if Mr. EYRE
had been left entirely in the hands of the Govern-
ment; but, as an Englishman, he cannot help call-
ing for " fair-play," when he sees a portion
of our countrymen "so un-English as to
hit a man when he is down. The re-
moval of Mr. EYRE from his post was a blow
that has been keenly felt by all who knew and
admired his character, but the cowardly and un-
called-for attacks made upon him since his return
to England, when every honourable spirit must
have sympathised with his position, will rally
around him a different class to the Guy-Fawkes-
burning philanthropists of Clerkenwell-green."

We commend this admirable letter to the notice
of all who have directed their attention to the
Jamaica question, and we feel assured that they
must profit by its perusal, and come to the conclu-
sion that great exaggeration has prevailed in many
quarters respecting the negro character, and that
great injustice has been done to Mr. EYRE. It is
indeed necessary for such spirited indications as
these to appear when such unworthy efforts are
made to traduce his reputation, and made by those
who should know better. Nothing is more difficult
than to efface impressions wrongly received, and
thus many have taken a false view of this familiar
question, who, if left to themselves, would have
judged very differently. It is satisfactory to notice
that the Bradford Working Men's Conservative
Association have adopted an address to Mr. EYRE
in which they express sympathy for his position,
and regret the treatment which he has received,
feeling persuaded that such a course does not rightly
represent the feeling of the country.

A very painful case has just been made the sub-
ject of inquiry at Hackney, and the revelations at
the inquest do not tend to redeem the character of
our workhouses. Some little time ago, in reference
to the outbreak of cholera, a member of the Go-
vernment observed that the system of local
self-
government was on its trial. Hitherto the autho-
rities of the several parishes and districts have
acquitted themselves with credit in many instances,
deseryinghigh praise for the exertions they have made
to resist the attack of the common enemy. The wide-
spread suffering and distress which the cholera has
occasioned among the poorer classes has called forth
sympathies in all directions, and
warm and ready
the efforts of the public officers have been so
earnestly seconded by private benevolence
and personal self-sacrifice that,sks, mortality,n sickness,
notwithstand-
ing the vast amount of ic
and distress, there has hitherto been no room
or ill-usage. The case
of neglect
bforrourcrhhatrugnd eser investigation at Hackney is the first
in which the cholera has played a prominent part ;
and the whole affair, though no doubt much re-
gretted by all parties, is a very painful one. It
seems from the evidence that the deceased, a little
old,wa
s was
andboy ot
the es evea
doctor years
who calleadtt
to a c k
se ce le bi
ty ea ht o
01 enr
ca
e,
gave an order for its admission to the work-
house or the German hospital, having, he ex-
plained, inserted these words because he had
heard that cholera cases were to be sent there.
The house from which the poor child was brought
was quite bare of furniture or comforts, as the in-
spector had moved out the family on account of
cholera infection. The doctor was therefore anxious,
he said, to get the child into either workhouse
or hospital without any delay. When the child got
to the workhouse the matron would not admit it,
and said it was to go to the German Hospital. The
assistant doctor, a youth of 18, endeavoured to
persuade the authorities to admit the child, and
finding this remonstrance was useless, sent
to Mr. SUMMERS, his superior, who came
and wrote an order for the child's immediate admis-
sion, which was likewise ineffectual. The end of it
was, after various delays, the Master came and
sent the child off to the German Hospital, after it
had been waiting half-an-hour in the porch. The
fvr the poor
rest of the story is soon told,