The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-02-01
RACE HABITS IN SOUTH AFRICA

1t is simply foolish to ignore
the race question, in these Isl
ands. 1t exists and must be
met wisely or unwisely. The
TeutOnic races have confronted
it everywhere in the extension
of their dominion. 1t will be
come a more troublesome ques-
ton here, in the future. After
the Hawaiian race habits are
dealt with, the race habits of
the Portuguese, the Japanese
and the Chinese must also be
dealt with. The best prepare
ton for doing so intelligentIy,
is to get adequate ideas of the
strength and nature of their
racial habits. They may be
dormant, as our "tempers" are
dormant, but trivial accidents
will instantly bring them into
play.
Professor Bryce's valuable
book on South Africa has Just
been published. A condensed
statement on the racial point
by an able reviewer of the
books, is as follows:
The two other causes that have
ruled the fortunes and shaped the de-
velopment of South Africa have been
that inhabit it, and the character of
the Government which has sought
from afar to control the relations of
those races. English statesmen have
been long wont to say that of all the
colonies of Great Britain none has
given the mother country so much dis
quiet and anxiety as has South Africa.
Mr.. Bryce finds the reason in the cir
cumstance that South Africa has had
two sets of race questions to deal with:
questions between the white and the
aborigines, questions between the
Dutch and the English. 1t is this lat
ter set of questions that have consti-
tuted the main thread of South Afric
an annals Why have they proved so
troublesome, and why are they so
troublesome today? Because, the
author answers, they involve senti-
ment, and thus, like questions of reli-
gion, touch the deepest spring of emo
ton. Race questions, moreover, spring
from or are involved with incompati-
bilities or character which prevent
either stock from fully understanding
and, therefore, fully trusting the men
of the other Suspicion, if not positive
aversion, = makes it difficult for men
to work together, even where the poll
tical arrangements that govern their
divisions are just and fair to both.
1T is not for us to seek or
create racial difficulties here.
They exist. We must, however,
be prepared to meet them, in
diligently, wisely. Our great
est enemy in doing. so will be
the strength and passion of our
own racial instincts, which
may lead us into conflicts,
which only moderation and
wisdom can avoid. The
probabilities are that either
with or without annexation,
these racial differences will
simply trash themselves out, in
many curious shapes.
The discussion of racial diff
ferences should not create hos
tile feelings. On the contrary,
a full understanding of this
subject should strongly tend to
allay any anger of the domin-
ant race, whenever the native
or other races manifest these
racial habits. If the dominant
race becomes clearly conscious
of the fact that it is itself pow
erfully governed by these ma
tional habits, it will make a
most just and liberal allowance
for the same, and often unrea-
sonable, habits in other races.
A full understanding of the
question is in the interests of
peace and good will.