The daily gazette., 1875-04-15
Froip the Neu York World.
p" IN african Rival.

Mr.. James Anthony Froude has under
taken a. task more difficult even than
that of justifying, in the eyes OF the
world, English policy towards Ireland
for the past seven hundred years. 1t Is
that Of turning the current Of British
emigration from America and Australia
to the possessions Of Her Majesty in
South Africa. Mr.. Froude has just re-
turned to London from visit to Natal,
and has delivered a lecture upon the
subject which has provoked the COM
ments Of the English press. Attention
has thus been directed with unusual
force to this remote land, known rather
vaguely at home hitherto as the strong
hold of the heterodox Colenso and the
neighborhood of the diamond diggings.
In this country Natal was virtually a
terra incognita under Charles Reade IN
troduced it to his readers in series OF
clever descriptions in his latest novel,
"a Simpleton." Mr.. Froude has exam-
ined it. with the eyes of a political econ
omist rather than those Of book-writer
ON his travels. He finds "the climate
and natural riches unmatched" There
are great fields of coal and metals, and
the grazing and arabic area is prodig-
ious. The colony of Natal alone can
support a population Of 60,5O0, 900 peo-
pie, and, to use his own expression, rs
destined ultimately to be the home OF q
great nation" He thinks that it effers
inducements superior to Australia for
emigrants, and, indeed, his views appear
to have impressed the English Journals
favorably, for one Of them calls upon
Mr.. Joseph Arch to look to South Africa
for q refuge for his proteges among the
| superhuous millions.
Unfortunately for the attractive pic
ture which Mr.. Froude would paint, he is
obliged to admit of one drawback to it.
1t, is the same figure that has so disturb
| ed the American landscape-the "inevi-
| table darky." The colored person seems
| to be the same the world over. His
vices have been attributed to slavery,
| but in the state of freedom in which he
revels in Natal he is, if anything, a lit
! tie worse. He will not work steadily
nor to advantage. He is very numerous
and very worthless. Mr.. Froude calls
him q "lazy scoundrel,' and remarks
that he prefers to pass his time sleep
ing, smoking and stealing" The high
est ambition of the more energetic ma
tive is to earn enough to buy two wives
and live the rest of his days in ease up
on their toll In addition to these un
fQoSraDl6 Qua1UleS OF nedrG anu ulSpOSl
tion, the Natal negroes are bloodthirsty
treachereus and warlike. The tribes buy
European arms with eagerness and have
been able to find white men unscrupa
lous enough to drill them in the use o.
the weapons. They now outnumber thu
whites twenty to one, and behind then
is the vast Continent of Africa peopleC
with beings equally savage and all dis
posed to press towards the coast ant
enjoy such of the fruits of civilization
Us they can obtain by force. 1t is tru
that few Caucasians are match for
, multitude of negroes, but the prospec
Of having to fight for foothold in Sout
Africa, when America offers the sam
advantages minus the fighting, is likel
to weigh decisively with the great ma
jority Of intending emigrants. Notwith
, standing Mr., Froude's alluring repor
and the approval of ii by the Londo
press, We see no reason to fear that Afr
! ca will at any time become formidabl
competitor with America for the mus
Gle and capital of the working-men {
the British Islands.