Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-11-27
COLOR IN THE A

COLOR IN THE WAR.
The question OF what effect on the
South African situation a rising among
The colored natives would have, has
often been discussed in the press. The
London Mail gives some statistics,
showing the seriousness Of such a ris-
Ing, should Il take place. The figures
may be presumed 20 be approximately
correct, and are interesting although
there are no present indications OF a
general native lnsurreotlon.
In Transyaal. according to The Mail.
there are $4,000 natives to $4,000
whites. II is not believed that the
republic Is threatened by q general hos
tile movement among the blacks. but
one tribe, the swa2ies, may make trou-
bic, as they have always resented the
annexation Of their country by the
Beers.
In Cape Colony the whole population
IL given as 400. 900 whites 20 1000, 600
blacks. In these figures are included a
number OF Malays and so-called Cape
Boys" the former being considered
white" and the latter half.castes. The
Malays, by the way, are said to form
an integral, reliable and considerable
portion Of the population OF Cape Town
and its suburbs. In religion they are
Mohammedans, worshlpping In their
wi mosques. Notwithstanding their
peculiar customs and habits, they are
considered among the most excellent Of
her majesty's subjects in that part Of
the world.
In BasutO land, on the border Of the
Orange Free state, there are 250. 900 na-
tiyes to only 600 whites The Basutos
are an agricultural people, well devel-
oped physically. 1t may be inferred
that the relation between them and
the whites are cordial, for other
wise II would have been very little Of
an effort for them to wipe out the hand
ful Of settlers that have taken up their
residence among them.
In Rhodesla, which embraces Mata-
beleland, Mashonaland, Manicaland
and Linchwe's country, there are over
one million natives to 5000 whites. In
British Central Africa, there are $4,000
blacks to 800 whites. B-echuanaland.
now formally annexed to Cape Colony,
has 100000 natives and 1000 whites.
Natal contains $4,000 natives and $1,000
white settlers. The natives are mostly
Zulus. and these are described as a
healthy, outstanding race, and, when not
contaminated by European influence,
customs, and vices (for the Zulu Is very
lmitatiye), they are reliable. trust
worthy, honorable, and, in short, a
tribe Of natures noblemen. Unfortu-
nately, they easily deteriorate. but
when isolated IN their locations
they keep w an the traditions of a
fearless independence. Great Britain
does not fear a hostile rising among
these natives.
IN the orange Free State the popula-
ton IL estimated at 2OO,0 900 natives to
$1,000 whites. There Is no other South
African state in which the proportion
on either side Of the color line is as
nearly equal as In this State.
This gives In round numbers a black
population Of five and a half millions
to 100000 whites. and OF the latter about
half, or 1920 are classed as Dutch,
while the remaining half are thought TO
be English in sympathy, II not by
birth.
These figures give a tolerably clear
idea Of the situation. There may be
no immediate danger Of a black DEM
o%nstration, but even without this ele-
ment Of danger, the war may become
one Of vast proportions. The Beers
seem to have changed tactics. their OBJ
Ject now being 10 simultaneously
threaten 80 many points, that the rein
loiNfli'NAN hNANI hNANiaA bAllEl Will
have TO scatter over a large area. and
u the Beers in Natal are not joining
General Joubert's columns on their on
ward march, 1t is difficult TO understand
where he gets men enough TO overrun
so much territory.
Great Britain, II seems, has notified
the foreign governments that a state
Of war now exists IN South Africa. This
Is a departure from the previous policy
Of regarding the disturbance as an in
surrection. This change Of front may
be an intimation that friendly lnterfer-
ence In behalf OF peace viii not be re-
scented. or it may be a recognition Of
the seriousness OF the enterprise In
which the empire Is engaged. At all
events Il insuTes the strict observance
Of the civilized rules Of warfare, ana
VIII render the struggle less revolving
than 81 otherwise might become.
The advance in the cost Of lumber re-
ported from Tacoma, Wash. appears to
have raised the roof on prices.
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