The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-05
SETTLING 4 "NAJIvE QUESTION"
Plans for Di-rosinE Of the Blacks and Their
Holdings ut Cape Colony.

Plans for DIsro-inE al the Bia eli . n nd The r
| Holdings ut Cape Colony.
| At first sight Il would seem that for I'm pres
sive and comical impudence II would be hard
| to beat the plant of the white interlopers in
| South Africa that the native question" the
problem OF what to do with the Africans is
getting to be q seriously troublesome ono and
is causing grave anxiety. The English settlers
| In Capo Colony are discussing the native ques-
tion very earnestly just now, and some OF the
solutions that are offered and seriously con-
sidered are exceedingly interesting. and in
deed are quite humorous. except from the
point OF view Of the natives themselves
The colonists quite naturally. feel hurt that
thoy are so handicapped by the .unwelcome
presence and prevalence OF the natives. The
South Africans. robust people arc so incon-
siderate OF the requirements OF civilization
that they persist In continuing to exist and
even TO increase in numbers In their native
land. In the other British colonies of Austria
liza and New Zealand. where the natives are
quietly dying Off and out. the native question
will soon cease to exist But in Cape Colony,
where the machine gun as factor in the solu-
tion OF the native question has not figured of
late, despite the constant inflow Of white i'm
mlgrants to help out the natural increase,
there are now 10000 natives to but
100000 whites In Cape Colony. These natives
II Is complained. occupy some OF the finest
lands Ia tho country. and, though living peace
IN.
nose In the colonists' scheme OF civilization;
and. besides, the white folk want the lands
Mr.. Cecil Rhodes. who has Just settled the pa:
tive aud natives land question in Matabele-
land by driving out the natives at the muzzlss
OF the machine guns IL Premier of Cape Colony.
but there would seem to be some technical dill
nculty IN the way OF his applying the Matebels-
land solution In Cape Colony:
One numerically large and politically intiu-
entail party in cape colony urges that to each
land occupied by him. which it Is argued. he
Will speedily under proper Inducements to
now occupied by natives win 6c com piateiS oc'
DESTROYS that each native should receive an
sufficient to support him, is denounced by its
opponents as neGrophilo party largely
teal views third sngsestion' I to grant rant
titles TO natives under certain conditions
looked on with some favor. because
u would improve the revenue returns by
transported on the Government rail roads, and
also 9y swelling the vail OF exports. While
s SEEM somewhat fair to The natives, II yet
OF tho whites, The industrious natives mil ht
IL is argued. do good deal Of the hard work
gustsd with the busine ss sell out TO the whites
who would thus eventually get the land in a
declined 70 cultivate his land II would DO for
felted to the crown.
Whatever the solution arrived at It will I'M
douhtedly bring about Just the conditions the !
natives do not want. as has invariably been
the case In such matters. The natives are con-
tent to live in the same pie way they have |
always been accustomed 10. Their simple !
needs are bountifully, supplied by the fruitful !
land without much labor on their part. Hut |
civilization wants TO make them wear clothes, |
eat meat. run sewing machine: and read |
newspapers. aud they woul much prefer not |
TO DO any OF these things. because they would |
make poor botch OF them. would he com |
RELIED to work hard, and the best fruits |
OF their labor would 20 to the invading l
whites Doubtless the eventual solution will /
be that the poor African will, by one
means or another. lose his land and his ances- |
trail means Of Livelihood, and be compelled in |
order 70 live Mt all, to hire out as day laborer.
Al hard work and small pay. to his white |
brother. That has been the usual way where
the natives are not efectualy removed. as
were the heroic Carlos. or do not conveniently |
fTindle and fade away as the Maoris are do
Ing. The question Is finally settled by the
native becoming beast OF burden in his ma
tive land; for while nominally he may have
equal rights with the white man he IL In no
way equally capab BILE OF pro1tinG BY them. aud
he goes 10 the wall just What civilization, OF
NE modern OccideLtal variety. las doue for
nRtiyes" might make an interesting story.