The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-12-11


zarro discovers new Eldorado he finds
pretext to take possession thereof ac-
cording to the forms Of law and the Gus.
toms of Christian countries. Butchery
and bloodshed are incidents, not serious
obstacles.
Civilization must win in South Africa.
There can be no question on that point.
But many serious problems remain to
be settled after the victorious pioneers
have vanquished the Matabele. In the
first place the savages have many SYM
pathizers in England, and Cecil Rhodes
has some formidable opponents there
who insist that the government must not
permit the Chartered company to make
its own terms of peace with the natives
and enter into the occupation of the
conquered country. They demand that
Lobengula be restored to his capital and
that the Matabele remain in undisturbed
possession of their territory.
Such policy would be a serious blow
to the Chartered company and would
arouse feelings of bitter indignation
throughout all English South Africa.
Indeed, an influential element in the
Cape Colony does not hesitate to an
nounce that in the event of arbitrary
interference by the crown it will re-
nounce its allegiance and set up an in
dependent government. Whether the
Gladstone ministry would attempt to
coerce the submission of the colonies is
considered doubtful.
The labor question is another problem
fraught with difficulty for the settlers of
Mashonaland. Unlike the American In
dian, the Kaffir refuses to be extermi-
mated. He declines to die off. He -four
ishes abundantly under the beneficent in
fiuences of British rule and multiplies
marvelously in times of peace. The first
effect of civilized government is to stop
the petty warfare between the native
tribes, and when this check is removed
overpopulation is the inevitable result.
The native population south of the Linn
popo has more than trebled by natural
increase alone during the past so years,
and indications point to even more rapid
increase in the future.
Since the black man refuses to make
way for the white the two must dwell
side by side under some sort of terms.
So far the whites have had little trouble
in maintaining their supremacy, but the
situation is full of perils and difficulties
for the dominant race. Owing to the
growing density OF the native popula-
ton it is extremely doubtful whether
South Africa Will ever become white
mans country" except in the sense that
India is.
could look with greater approval on
the operations of the British South At
RIGA company if that corporation were
conducted on more equitable principles.
Thousands of intelligent, industrious
men are struggling for bare subsistence
in England today who might live in COM
fort in Mashonaland if they could be
permitted to retain the fruits of their
exertions. The climate is salubrious and
the soil extremely fertile and rich in
mineral wealth. But returning settlers
give very discouraging reports of the sit
uation there. The richest 6iggings are
in the hands of the Chartered company,
but prospectors' licenses are granted for
a moderate fee. When gold is discov-
cred, however, 90 per cent of the pro-
ceeds go to the company, and the remain
der is taxed to such an extent that the
miner usually gives up in disgust and his
property reverts to the corporation.
DR.. G. S. Jameson, who has been di-
recting the campaign against Lobengula,
is Scotchman of middle age He was
practicing medicine in Kimberly three
years ago, when the pioneer force set
out from that city for Mashonaland.
He entered the service of the Chartered
company, aud so distinguished himself
in his dealings with the natives that he
was appointed administrator of Mashon-
aIand. 1t was the act of DIR. Jameson
that precipitated the war with the Mata-
belle. c. G. Hunt.