Evening journal., 1901-09-13
SOUTH AFRICA HAS BECOME
THE HOME OF MANY PROBLEMS

South Africa has thrown aside the
mask and presented itself in its true
coiors. II used to be a dear, lazy old
country, with little work and big pay
for it; but il has suddenly come for
ward as the home of many problems,
all crying urgently for an immediate
settlement.
or these problems perhaps one of The
| biggest is the Kaffir. In the past he
has fallen through many schemes for
his betterment. and the missionaries
hearts that he has broken. TO say moth
ing of the political economists and
suciologists, are beyond numbering.
He is half a blessing and half an affic-
ton, but for the affiction no cure has
yet been found adequate
lie is patient. simple fellow. ca
pabe,l like other wild animalsof domes-
ltication and training. He can work.
and sometimes does work. Occasion
ally he learns a trade and labors at it
in iowliness of heart, not daring TO
compete with the white man; but more
commonly he is content to turn his
strength to rough labor, such as an
intelligent ape might accomplish, and
let the higher flights be.
What he may yet do is a question OF
the future; in how far he is to be al
lowed to enter the market of trained
labor constitutes the problem in chief.
Up to the present he has shown him
Iscf unambitious. He finds his des-
ltiny in service and obedience; and the
rule which has best suited him is a
benevolent despOtism It is word
among the farmers that the less you
descend to your Kaffrs the more they
will hold you i'm esteem. heard a
conversation once between an old CO.
lOnial and a new arrival on the stOOp
of an up-country hotel The new ar
rival after the manner of his kind,
way laying down the law and the co
lonial was rebutting his inferences
with considerable energy.
Il don't agree with your native pol
ICY said the new arrival. you seem
to hold them "A little dearer than your
dog, a liutle higher than your horse. "
well, not exactly" replied the
other; I'm not one of your negro
philists.'
,,--4out doubt the Kaffr is glad to
be relieved of the responsibility of
thinking for himself. Where his duty
consists in carrying out an order he
shows himself an honest and trust
worthy servant; but where he finds a
measure of responsibility devolve upon
10 al 10
trust Kaffir to take your horse to be
shod but not to judge when the horse
requires shoeing and to choose be-
tween shoes and plates.
But this is not a state that will last.
Up I'LL now the Kaffir has burned his
own smoke. There will come a day
when that smoke viii, incommode a
whole white people un.ess the proper
tand only possible) precautions be
taken. And we are thus confronted
with the question as to what those
necessary precautions are.
Already the Kafir is chasing the
educational system and the practical
schools. Already he is pushing his re-
markable men to the front. and they
bless their hearts, are forming unions
and societies and editing newspapers
land agitating for votes and making
class legislation difficult for the mer
that mean well These are but fore
runners of a new, abnormal, superb
cially civilized race OF splendid vitality
adaptable morals. and no principle.
Whatever
We have heard a lot of blither Cand
perhaps, a little sense) about the "yel
low danger but what of the Blacl