Though no Indian has been avoiding these gentlemen or doing them any harm, they remain isolated and have to put up with bitter public criticism. No Indian, therefore, will make bold to do what they have done. Moreover, in public at least they have been saying that, though they had themselves soiled their hands and tarnished their faces, let no other Indian do like them. In its Notice from Pietersburg the Government has now announced that the Pretoria Indians will be free to take out new registers at Pietersburg. I for one take this to be a kind of bondage.
Temptation is an evil thing.
I consider that taking out of new registers is a crime. To tempt them to commit that crime, the Government has only opened another door for the Pretoria Indians. It will be wrong to regard it as a concession. It is just a snare. For my part, I am convinced that no Indian from Pretoria will succumb to the temptation.