The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-14
AN AFRICAN ELECTION
HOW THEY MANAGE THOSE THINGS
AT DURHAM, NATAL.
The Contests Lack Some Of the ThrillingIy
Picturesque Features Of the Elections Of
the United States. but They Are Not
without Interest After An
rsrecial Correspondence.l

was fortunate enough 20 witness in Durham
Natal, holly contested election TO fill va
cancy in the legisati sc council Of tlse colony
Compared with the patriotic turmoil that
has been in progress in tia country for many
weeks the wild excitement, modest methods
and narrow scope Of that Little election on
the far away shores Of the Indian ocean
were tame indeed. But for me the unac-
cuSomed system and surroundings of that
spectscle possessed far greater interest than
do the thrilling incidents of the present
mighty struggle between the princes OF dark
ness and the angels If light in the United
States. And TO the professional patriots iii.
rectly concerned | dare say the issue was
! quite as momentous.
For the benefit Of those readers unfamiliar
with Rider Haggards novels aud the geo
graphy Of the dark continent, l may state
that Durham is the only seaport of the Eng
lish colony Of Natal, situated on the south
east coast Of Africa, about midway between
the cape Of Good Hope and Mozambique
sandwched like a slice of Dutch cheese en-
compassed by black bread between the tw0
uenightcned, uuanneyed provinces OF Zulu
land and Pondoland Something larger than
the state Of New York ia area. the colony
has a population Of about 10000 English, on
Europeans and from 10000 90 10000 native
Kaiiirs, which latter clement is literally too
numerous to mention with any degree OF OK
actitule The town of Durham has a pouu
lation Of about 5000 white, aud as many
more kafiirs, coolies ami Arats
Natal is a crown colony. tina, is 20 say. IL.
executive officers are appointed. Dos govern.
clent administered ana ITS pohcydrected by
the English crOwn-or lbs representatives, u
Downing street The colonial secretary
colonial treasurer colonial engineer. secre
.ary for native affairs attorney general. etc
executive officers who receive their commits
sions and instructions from the crown. 0c
supy seats IN the legislative council aua
practically direct the deliberations and policy
II that body. The council consists of only
9ne body, tw0-thirds Of its members being
elected by the people ! am afraid the ob
.equous manner m which these clcctiv.
members defer 10 the desires OF their execu
tive colleagues would make the blood boil II
the veins Of the fiery. untamed legislator VIII
holds forth at Washington.
Sir Arthur Havelock is the present Cover .
nor OF the colony and receives a salary of .
$50 600 o year besides the Use of govern
meut house 10 Pietermartzburg. the capt .
tai, and a country place at Sydenham. with .
other emoluments of the character that MAX.
the British foreign service $50 desirable for
an impecuu.ous aristocracy
II came TO pass i'm July last that Mr. Har
yey Grenacre, one of the three members for
Durham in the legislative council. resigned
his seat in that body and departed for Eng
land Theroupon arose "a friendly rivalry
for the honor of filling thc vacant CHAIR be
tween one 7. +. Saunders. a sugar planter
and Mr. Charles X. Dacomb. retired pub
lican who had made fortune n Transvaal
gold mining speculations and set himself uI
as "a gentleman Mr. Daconh proclaimed
himself the "diggers' candidate. and ad,o
Gated the revision of the colonial mining
laws, while Mr. Saunders appealed 20 the
more conservative element and was tine IA
yorite Of the old settlers
Between these gentlemen the canvass wa
quietly and peacefully enough
until the NOrkingmens association. ana active
political organization under the .eadershipol
an energetic lrishman, introduced INTO tut
"a new candidate and burning
issue This new candidate was one John.
Fyfc King "a gunsmtu of limited education
end unlimited confidence and ambition. who
plunged into the contest and d0geerel verse
with vim that Was cditylng and sublime.
The burning issue was very similar O..
the Chinese problem which BIAS agitatel the
Pacific states aud Dis now pressing Tor soiu
.ion ~ the Australian colonies and Wa.
allied the coolie question "ls this % bel
ln English or an Asiatc coI9uyF was the
question propoundei by the wornugmaus
aadilate on the stump and u flaming and
sensational posters that every where greeted
he public e}c. and on every hand Wa taAcu
lp and ieccuoed tie cry, The coolies must
,o"
TO understand this coole question sou
must know that in the days Of infant indus
ries the Natal government had imported
rom the districts az Calcutta and Madla.
aree numbersof low caste coolies 10 work 600
Dc sugar and tea plantations OF tle colony
hese laborers were skilled lu tne cultivation
4 sugar cane, the tea plant and the coffee =
erry, and were much cheaper than white
nd moro reliable than Kailir labor They
ame under iude1ltures OF from seven % iii D.
cen years, and were practically slaves for !.
hat period. 40 the expiration Of their iu .
entures the coolies repair 90 the towns and .
pply themselves diligently % market gar -
culug fishing and domestic service Being q
cry frugal and industrious they have ac.
uired a monopoly OF these empoymonts, g. =
be serious alarm of white workmen. who see ?,
themselves threatened with ruin by co0ue q
heap labor Personally the coole Is not +,
ossessed OF qualities calculated 90 endear -
Inn O. the English heart, as be- scrupu.0usly VI
laintains bis native customs, costume and -
,Igions, and morally is little superior o.
ret Hartes Heather Chinee.' he shows
% disposition 10 accept European csilzl. q
on, and DOB truth las little encouragement y
do So J.
But when the Workiugmeus association b
agau actively 70 os.tate the question OF re- !.
ining the coolies % India, the proposition =
et the serious opposition OF the planters, %
h0 claimed protection for their vested in- ~
rests ami asserted that their plantations 81
luid not be cultivated without coOllc labor,
hilc the conservatives doubted the colstl- -
Of the proposed measure, mas -
uch a. tho coolies are British subjects and ~