, 1876-06-24


The Special Commission for trying the riot
ers in Barbados will probably consist of two
WIndward Island judges and Mr.. Packer, the
Chief Justice of Barbados. Some very curious
things are expected to appear from the evi.
denoe which is likely to be given, and the
Commission will be a failure, ard not rise to
the level of the justice of the case, unless 1t
brings out clearly the manner il which the i'm.
preston grew in the minds of the people that
in taking provisions they we're acting under
the authority Of the Governor. 1t would BE-
rather interesting to trace, even only as az
abstract problem in relation to the negro mind,
the steady but rapid growth Of an impression
which led to such a disastrous result. For a
negro population to throw aside the notions of
right and wong, which must exist among
them, although perhaps in an elementary form,
and take to plumber and rioting in the name Of
the guardians Of peace and order, certainly pre-
Sent5 q picture Of mental confusion not easily
TO be para!l8led, But a commission composed
OF really independent aad able Judges (tho
names Of Mr.. Packers colleagues ara not yet
announced) might be expected TO bring some
order out Of the chaos that exists.
The annual meetings of the Aborigines Pro-
teotion Society and the Anti, Slavery Society
have taken place. The old ladies who sup
port these societies by their subscriptions must
be Immensely gra5idtd-a they sip their tea
(Sweetoned with slave grown sugar. and stroke
their ~tavourjte cats-jn reading the aCcor'
of the great activity displayed by these socie.
ties. The first Of them is certainly advancing.
1t not only continues its practice of protecting
the aborisines, but it has also made the dis
covery that there are some aborigines to pro-
tect. This latter fact is very consOling, and 1t
was with a mild but complete satisfaction thai
the meeting gazed upon a specimen of the real
red man, not las Tennyson puts it) {" dancing
beneath his red cedar tree,' but clad in
solemn cloth, and locking seriously self con.
scious, which, as everybody knows, is the most
amusing kind of countenance that one can
put on. This gentleman is the important head
or that most interesting and influential body
known as the tribe of the Ojrbbeways, and it
was of course only proper that the society
should pay him due attention. The Maaritius
cOolie report was Of course referred to at
length, Demerara was denounced by these stay
at-home critics who cannot reason and are
blind to facts, as being as bad as any Colony
for its treatment Of the coolies, and altogether
the society showed its usual impracticability
in dealing with this question. Sir Charles
Wingield, in that dull and tedious manner
which was SO carefully cultivated by him when he
was a member of the House of Commons, made
some remarks on the Barbados question. he
talked about the planters wishing martial law.
and desiring measures of severe repression and
all that kind of nonsense, just as if the planters
in the West Indies were not as intelligent and
benevolent as himself, although certainly none
of them had ever risen to the distinction OF
being member for Gravesend, and Of being
cast off by that highminded constituency. The
fact is the planters have done more for the
benefit of the negro-by giving him work and
wages. by practical endeavours to UNDERSTAND