The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-02
HAEFTRs AND WHITE WOMEN.
Blacks In Africa yep Rarely offend Against
the women Of the white Settlers.

A Ranfr at johannesburg was convicted a
few days ago Of the crime Of assaulting a Boer
woman, The sentence was confirmed by Gen.
Lord Roberts and the man was shot.
Its To the credit Of the Ksftrs that there Is
seldom any reaso 10 complain OF their beha vior
toward the white women OF South Africa The
blacks Of that region outnumber the whites Ave
to one. but in all the years OF the white occu-
pAncy the men N the native tribes have been
conspicuously free from crimes against white
women. This fact Is all the more noteworthy
because the blacks have frequently been at war
with the whites, and they are also in over
whelming numbers in places where there are
very few white settlers. 1t IL also remarkable
that there are 40 few crimes OF this nature In
view Of the fact that the blacks are very bad y
treated In most of South Africa.
4 At the Pan-Atrican Congress in London last
month several Of thu speakers told OF the hard
ships and humiliation inflicted upon tho blacks
by the whits races In South Africa. In many Of
the towns they are not allowed to walk on the
sidewalks. In Natal they are not permitted TO
enter post Offices by tho doors used by the
whites. but special entrances are reserved Tor
them The Beers show the least consideration
for the blacks al ali the white races. The Boer
farmer regards the negro as nothing but a
beast OF burden. The black man Is not per-
mltted. in the Trsn.vasl, 10 own land nor even
10 De atlsrge without a pass The intelligence
and character Of some Of the natives have
lfted them. considerably above their fellows
and enabled them to acquire some wealth: this
fact, however. makes no difference With their
social p~ositiou as far a. mot OF the whites are
concern d, One. and all they must travel
in parts OF the railroad trains which. "A one OF
the speakers expressed II. are more. At for
beasts than men" The franchise. thus far, has
been wholly out Of the question for. any OF the
blacks in that most civilized part Of Africa. Mr..
q. W. Christian declared that in Rhodssia the
negro 10 compelled TO work without adequate
pay and that the chiefs are forced 10 1nd gangs
OF blacks for the gold mines. whore they work
for many months At the absolute mercy Of
white overseers.
This il q fairly accurate though gloomy state
ment Of the T~osition VI that part OF the millions
Of BLACKS who oome most into relations
with the dominant though numerically inferior
white population. On the other hand. IL may
be said that the tribes OF South. Africa
on the whole, are not yet nearly so far ad-
vanoed in civilization az the negroes o. this
country. Their efficiency a. labOrers, on an
average. IL considerably he'ow that Of our
Southern negroes. After they have earned a
little monNy, most OF them wish to 70 home and
remain In ldleness I'll their cash Is spent 81 10
happers tina the labor QUESTION Ia a serious one
in South Africa and many indian coolies are inn
ported to do work VIII ch the whites would
gladly have the Kaf1rs do II they were. as yet,
developed 80 far as TO be- more reliable and in
dustriOug