The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-28
THE MATABELE UPRISING.

All reports Of the Matabele insurrec-
ton in South Africa come through
English sources, and the British gov
eminent, like the Spanish with Cuba,
is taking special pains to furnish only
such news as will have a tendency to
rebound to its own credit Savages
do hot write books or correspond with
newspapers, otherwise a good deal Of
what is accepted as history might have
to be rewritten. According to trust
worthy accounts, however, the English
in their treatment of natives in the
newly acquired regions of South and
did the SpaniardS in Central and South
America, after the nominal abolition
of native slavery by Charles the Fifth,
in 1912. The natives were made free
in name, but made in effect serfs Of the
crown instead of the slaves of individ-
ualS. A capitatiOn tax was imposed
amounting to about $1.00 a head, and
exacted in the form of personal service.
We are told of this system that it really
increased the miSerieS of the natives
and kept them i'll condition of bond
age, although undoubtedly intended for
their benefit. DR.. James Johnson,
British subject and one of the most
impartial men who has travelled in and
written about the newly occupied re-
gions in Africa, says that a tax of six
shillingS per annum is levied by the
British upon every male native over IA
years of age, while the Portuguese de-
mand only one rupee about two shil-
Ings, or IS cents,) resulting in some of
the natives going over 10 the latter,
while others are threatening resistance
TO the unreasonable and unjust de-
mands made upon them, from which
they derive no return or benefit what
ever. Ii there is race in Africa that
the British claim especially TO have
benefited, it is the MaShonas, whom
the white invaders profess 10 have res
cued from the tyranny of the Mata-
beleS. DR.. Johnson gives the other
side of the Mashona story as follows:
The large native kraal (at Six Mile
SpruiD turned out to be completely de-
serted, the natives having fed in terror
from the outrages committed upon them
by white policemen. The cooking pots.
calabashes and baskets of the Masnou-
as scattered around the huts were sug-
gestive of hasty fight. The
whole scene was sad and ssckening in
the extreme. Further information from
reliable sources only augmented our
horror at the depravity of the brutes,
who had thus added another blot on
highlands fair escutcheon. And Vet
We have heard the hope expressed by
philanthropic and Christian people al >
home that with the opening up Of Cen
tral Africa by British protectorates
and chartered companies an entrance
would be secured to the heart of the
hitherto unevangelized region for the
gospel Of Christ. But it is much to
be feared that not in this generation
viii the deeD-seated dread and bitter
haze Of the Mashonss toward the white
man be eradicated, whether he repre-
sents the church. government or COM
merce.
It is easy TO imagine from the fore
going that the Matabeles, who are not /
OF the same submissive stamp as the |
MashonaS. may have had provocation
to justify their instruction against |
British authority. The Matabeles /
would not be likely 70 accept without
resistance the yoke Of servitude i'm
rssSed as an equivalent for a personal
lax, which the Mashonas have borne
patiently If unwillinsly.