The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-08-21

freedom. Mr.. Courtney does not an
ticipate that many British workingfnen
will be tempted to go to South Africa.
"The workingman does not willingly
go to a country where a colored and
dependent race do the work. unless he
is called to position to supervise and
direct them. There is thus next to no
scope for agricultural laborers In
| South Africa, and even mine workers
go there as captains and leaders, not
as mere laborers. The progress OF Ma
tai Is most striking Illustration OF
| the unattractlvenes of South Africa,
since 1t differs from the inner table,
| lands in naturally admitting more
varied agriculture and, being mainly a
| British colony. presents none Of the
difficulties which confront British
emigrant on entering among the
| Dutch-speaking people with Dutch
habits and Dutch customs. Yet Natal
draws few immigrants from the United
Kingdom, the total white population
numbering only about $1,000. being less
than the immigrants from British In
| dia, who have come as traders as we'll
as farm laborers, and again less than
twelfth part Of the Zulu population.
which has increased under our rule to
an extent provoking some anxiety re-
specting the future. 1t may be remem-
bered in passing that the Natal whites
themselves are jealous of the Indian
immigrants. They have taken effec-
tive steps to prevent any further great
addition to their numbers. All this
goes to show that, except so far as i'm
migrants are drawn to the mining
centers of the Rand, we\must not ex-
pect any movement changing the char
acter of the white population Of South
Africa"
Mr.. Lyttelton, who was chairman of
the commission sent to South Africa to
investigate the claims of foreigners for
compensation for damages incurred
during the war, is also inclined to take
hopeful view of the outlook, although
recognizing that the difficulties are
many and serious. He points to the
affinties between the Dutch and Brit
ish races, and to the similarity between
tions of both people. Though the loss
OF national independence must be a
grievous thing to the Beers, still there
are precious things which national in
dependence does not safeguard, such
as personal liberty, religious toleration
and the free expansion of the indi-
vidual, which, it Is to be hoped, his alb
sorption into the British empire will
guarantee to the Boer. MIR. Lyttelton
tells of some Of the things which have
already been accomplished. The law
affecting the natives of the Transvaal
has been reformed; the illicit drink
traffic with natives has been put down;
the gold and patent laws have been
improved; q scheme for irrigation has
been worked out and land settlement
plan devised. AS to education, Mr..
Lyttelton says:
ITO the genuine delight of their par
ents, while the war was yet raging, a
larger number of Dutch children en-
joyed elementary education than ever
before in the two provinces. Dutch
teachers taught to the children their
own religious faith, using for this pur-
pose the Taal language, which, though
barbarous tongue in ordinary use,
rises in connection with Biblical teach
ing to a homely and picturesque dig
nifty. After religious conviction had
thus been satisfied, the parents of the
children saw, with profound satisfac-
tion, lessons given in English by Eng
lish teachers, in all other branches Of
elementary education"
To Lord Methuen. he of singular mis-
fortune in war, is credited this wise
injunction to the volunteer teachers
who came from various English pro-
vnces to assist in the work Of paciti-
cation and reconstruction: Seek out
those who know the children of the
land and spend many Of your hours
cut of school with them, try to learn
something of the Taal that expressive
language of Dutch-Africander popula-
tion, which measures and describes
everything through the experience Of
farm life, offer to talk of your home
occupation, and to read with your
CoiilTduSS lhe NoihS VI iIHSiiSh AtSio-
ture that you value most; ask them to
lead you to the tents of those among
their countrymen from whom you can
gain the deepest insight into the Boer
character. In word, go among your
fellow workers as friends and equals
and as messengers of peace
Such policy, now clearly sanctioned
by King Edward and the new British
premier. cannot fail to work out even-
tual good results.