The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-04
Bishop Hartzell
On The BoeP War

Chicago, May IA lecture on the South
African war was delivered by Bishop IIartzell, |
Of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the Audi
torium this evening BY way Of introduction
the bishop spoke of the remarkable features
Of the war now going on in Africa. Not one
half of the Beers Of South Africa, he said are in
arms against England. More than hall Of the
Dutch in South Africa live in Cape Colony and
Natal and, outside of a few thousand along the
northern edge of these colonies adjoining the
Orange Free state, while deeply sympsthizing
ON account of race and blood tics with their
Dutch friends who are fighting England, they yet
protest their loyalty to Queen Victoria Years
ago President Burger, speaking in Holland said
lin that far away South African country there is
to be a new Holland. In few years there will
be s0OO,OO0 of Europeans all speaking the Dutch
language, and that Holland will be greater and
more powerful than Holland in Europe, and the
prestige OF Dutch civilization will be greatly adj.
vanced" This sentiment represents the Boer
dream for Dutch empire in South Africa.
--.o:-
No one can understand the full significance OF
this contest in South Africa unless he studies the
laws and spirit of the Biton and Boer con.
corning the native CT black populations in
their midst and in surrounding sections. Char
tered companies, proteCtorates republics col.
onies, and empires in Africa will come and go,
but the over-shadowing. persistent problem
which will remain. is the treatment OF the native
or black races However much in certain se".
ticns there may be white civilization, the larg.
est proportion of that continent is to be ocCu'
pied by these people, and the l50,00OO00 of today
are to multiply more and more in the future as
there is good government and development Of
commercial prosperity.
-:o;--
In the treatment of the black races there has
been clear antagonism between the Driton and
the BoCr from the very beginning. The first
trek in 1882 was because England abolished slav'
cry There were other issues, but every serious
contest had its relation to the natives The
Bcer believes that the natives arc the children
Of Ham and are intended by Providence for slaV.
eIy. II slavery cannot be in that form then the
relation must by law be fixed so that equality CT
privilege is not permitted between the Boer and
the native no matter what may lie the ntci-
Gcncc character of the latter. The laws now
IN force in the Transyaal fully demonstrate this.
The constitution provides that there shall be no
equality between white and colorCd persons in
church or state; black man can walk on the
sidewalk in town or city, this includes not only
native teachers and preachers trained by foreign
missionary societies, but also black or mulatto
people who come from Cape Colony or elsewhere.
About two years ago when this law was enforced
for the first time in Johannesburg there were
many foggings OF natives for several days before
they came to understand what the law meant
No black man can own land in the Transvaal
No black man can become a trader of any KIND
no matter what his intelligence or how good his
character. Up to two years ago there could be
no legal marriage Of any black person. mar
riagc law was passed requiring fec .f SIS, with
other hindrances so many that the missiona lies
and philanthropists arc seeking 20 have it re-.
poalcd. No black man mas a standing in ourt
in the TraGs' dal; he cannot Size the government
or white man. The lranSyall docs Iolhing
toward the education OF :he black Ieopc, al
though b. ljccnsas, and i)rth, they pay per
cent nf the public school money. What il done
among them is done by English aid European
| ami American Missionary 9ssociatons aud the
testimony OF all preachers ard missionaries in the
Transvaal outside Of the Dutch Reformed
church is that their work is often intcriered with
and that the attitude especially of 'hc Boar
officials is frequently brutal toward the natives
| connected with mission stations Recently Mrs.
| Appcbce, wife of Wesleyan Methodist mission.
| ary, murdered on her way to church because
| OF her criticisms Of the government, and no ar.
| rests have yet been nade.
-:o:-
The Transvaal Dutch churches, after fifty years
| of opportunity, have done practically nothing in
missionary work among the natives. failed
| to learn OF one black convert much less native
| teacher or preacher or congregation in either
| branch Of the Transvaal Dutch Reformed church.
| President krugcrs branch, which is the Dopper
| church, and claims to he the True Reformed
| body, not only does nothing, but beginning with
| Kruger himself, represents the most extreme
| anti.black sentiment The Dutch Reformed
| church in Cape Colony and in Natal, which ha:
been under 100 years of English law, fair dealing
to the black man as well as example, shows
| different record. They have missions among the
| blacks, mad they have some most excellent peo
| pie who are giving their time and money to thi.
great work, although there is a large conserva
tive sentiment even in that section against then
! in their own church. On the other hand. il
Cape Colony the constitution allows no difference
| on account of color in church or state, natives
| walk where they please in street or on sidewalk
! they trade under the same conditions as Britor
| and Boer can own all the land they can buy
have the same marriage laws as others, educa
| tion is encouraged among them and the govern
ment gives assistance to any properly organize
native school and spends many thousands q
pounds every years in helping to educate tn,
blacks, and as climax the blacks have tht
franchise and vote on the same conditions n
| their white ncighbors. As a result, there ar,
many thousands Of natives under English ru
who are not only intelligent and educated, bu
who have property, and the natives very srgel,
support their own schools and preachers anc
| churches.
| -:o:-
Could there be a more positive contrast tina,
| the above laws and administration indicate
Add to all this the brutality, especially of Trans
vaa officials, toward Latives One Of the man,
instances is the treatment which General Cronj
recently gave TO a native chieftainess and he
people, On a letter written by one of his owl
men, which he read to her, without giving he
any opportunity Of reply or rebuttal, he fne
her nearly 800; and gathering together thrteei
OF her advisers, fogged them, giving to eaC
| twenty-sX lashes, and when each one refused T.
say 'thank you," another lash was added. The
had done nothing wrong themselves, but h
claimed ought to have advised her better. Tn
case was taken to the courts and the Judge de
cided that the fine should be returned, whic
has never been done. And General Cronjc he
came the chief native commissioner, and the wv
men who conducted the hogging were made spC
Cial ENJOYS to study the conditions Of the native
in that section. Every black man in Americ
and every well-wshcr Of the black man i
America and elsewhere ought to pray for tll
triumph of British arms in South Africa.
-,:o;-
The immediate occasion of the war was III
treatment of the Outlanders in the Transyaa
The Transvaal has been a COVE rnmcnt admins
tered on the basis of preference instead Of princ
pie. Under British rule there is absolute eGua
ity of privilege and protection to all white mer
i T. T. l. + + t. j. j. /. i.
So