The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-22
Beers and Blacks.

During the course OF the debate in the
House of Commons on the address respon-
sive to the Queens speech. Mr. JOSEPH
CHAMBERLAIN allowed his temper to warp
his Judgment and obscure his memory.
He attempted to bolster a weak cause by
referring to a subject which, as he said,
was not dealt with in the Blue Books,
namely, 1.-THE disgraceful treatment OF the
natives by the Beers" He added: Tho
Beers trekked because they wanted to
waIlop the niRgers." Mr.. JOHN DILLON at
once said, THAT is not true but being
called to order exclaimed that he meant to
impeach not Mr.. CHAMBERLAINs veracity
but the correctness of his assertion.
The Parliamentary distinction may have
served for the time and place. but impartial
onlookers will scarcely acquit Mr.. CHAM
BERLAIN of a deliberate attempt to produce
fugitive political effect by an appeal to
current misconception. We cannot assume
that he spoke in ignorance, for such an as
sumption would imply that a man who has
been for years Secretary for the Colonies
has neglected the obvious duty OF acquaint-
ing himself with the history Of one OF the
most important regions under his con-
and he must have meant them to under
stand, that the slaves who were freed
in the Cape Colony by the British Act
OF Emancipation were natives OF South
Africa, and that the Great Trek Of 1910 oc-
Cured because the Beers desired to migrate
to a country where they would still be able
to hold the natives in bondage. That the
charge has been frequently repeated by i'll
informed persons is no excuse for Mr..
CHAMBERLAIN, for it has been refuted by
all the authoritative historians and can be
easily disproved by brief reference to
dates and facts.
From the founding Of the Cape Colony by
| the Ho.landcr5 up TO the present hour, the
| three native races Of South Africa, namely,
the Bushmen, the Hottcntots and the
/ Kaffirs, have never been ensIaved. From
/ first to last the laws of the country allowed
! none Of the aboriginal inhabitants Of South
! Africa to be held in bondage. The Hotten-
| tots and all the other native races remained
free, and their children were free. More
over, the children OF Hottentot and other
native women were free, even in cases
where the fathers were slaves. Not only
were such children free, but the white
/
them and to protect them till they were old
enough to look after their own interests.
The only slaves In the Cape Colony were
pure blacks imported from the west coast
! Of Central Africa by the Dutch East India
Company. The treatment Of these black
slaves at the Cape has always been more
kindly than the treatment which negroes
received in most other parts Of the world
THEAL, the most authoritative historian OF
South Africa, testlfes that the Dutch laws
gave ample protection against ill-treat
ment and cruelty, and that the slaves in
the Cape Colony enjoyed more comfort thar
lahorers in Great Britain. "No portion oil
this community is better of or happier
perhaps, than the domestic slaves in South
Africa" These words occur in despatch
from Lord CHARLES SOMERSET, Governor
at Cape Town from 1914 to 1928, to the
Earl Of BATHURST, Secretary Of State.
In 1905. however, the Cape Colony wal
lost by the Dutch East India Company, anC
became British possession. 1t remained
} 80 until 1902. What does THEAL say il
reference to this period2 From 1916 t
> 1902, more slaves were imported than a
= any period OF equal length before or since
The trade was then legal and profitable
: and English energy was directed to max
. the most Of it." Under the second Dutc
Government, when the Cape was ruled b.
: the Batavlan Republic, instead OF by tn
e East India Company GSo5-ol the importa
) ton Of slaves was prohibited. and a LAY
L was prepared providing that every chill
= born in South Africa OF slave parent
n should he free. This measure would hav
4 come into operation in few years hA