The times., 1899-11-19
NATIVES FAVOR THE BRITISH.
Basuto students in Ohio Resent the
Boer War Of 1855.
(From the New York Tribune J

ttrOm the New 10rk Tribune
There are at WiIberforce University. an
institution situated near Xenia. Ohio main
taiued for the higher education of negro
youth by the African Methodist Episcopal
Church, eleven native African students.
among whom are two girls. They are all
modest and uuassuming, Of noble physique.
and representative in every particular or
the flower of the BasutO tribe in South AZ
rica, upon whose territory the war between
the English and The Beers is nos being
fought. These natives are all of more than
average intelligence. and are among the
best Of the students. They display the
greatest interest in the present South AZ
riean war and are in receipt OF information
regarding the real nature of affairs directly
from the country itself. Their enthusiasm
is unbounded, and they have already shown
their determination TO enlist in the colonial
army against the Beers if necessary
Il would seem in contradiction 70 Jha
press dispatches to make the assertion that
these natives are not in sympathy with the
Beers in giving their reasons one of them.
a BasutO woman now educating herself here
for missionary work among her own peC-
PIE, said; Yes. I am for the English
But the press dispatches say that the
Basutos are enlisting with the Beers"
No; my tribe is for the British" "
Why do the BasutOs sympathize with
the EngIish?"
Our hatred for the Dutch dates back 10
the cruel war of 1888. when the Beers
seized our country without any pr0voca-
tion save that Of avarice England offered
her protection and checked the grabbing
designs Of the Beers. In 1867 trouble again
arose, and the BasutO chief declared his
tribe British subjects. This prevented open
hOstiIities vet the BCers are continually
Ha E-ff ha
are more and more making the condition
of the natives better They allow them 10
govern themselves and 20 maintain a ma
tive army and mete out to them an equal
ity of justice and privileges with thar Of
the whites
I'm the TransvaaI the natives are COM
PEELED 20 sustain the government. and rhey
do not understand its nature. For that
reasO nyOU read about missionaries among
the Beers being killed. The natives say.
The BOer is a rObber: he brings his book.
and then his brother comes. and makes us
pay taxes on our land for nothing AMI 50
we viii kill him"
What is the present condition cf the
natives in the TrausvaaI o. was asked
The general condition is very bad she
said. The natives are treated inhumauIy.
They are allowed 10 opportunity for learn
ing to read. They have no rights IN some
of the cities except in Pretoria itself
where Kruger is The government ofiic ers
are to blame for the present war-nOt
Kruger, for he is a good man -nt w0u
do right. The natives have h1d their land
stolen from them. and are not allowed TO
purchase any property They are really
house slaves. and have no voice whatever
in the government"
what DO you think viii be the p-obabIs
outcome Of the war;" was asked.
"We are hoping the English viii win 20
she answered. 1T is hard 20 say what
viii be its end. But il the English win
we know our condition VIII be vastly i'm
proved. The natives can render valuable
aid TO the English. They are already arm
ed and know the nature Of the country
and the Beers mode of warfare"
The woman displayed her hatred for ths
Beers in answering questions. and savs
much information as TO the ignorant aud
demOraIiZcd condition Of the BCer forces
as she saw them. and said she felt GER
tain Of their defeat.