The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-18
ROBBED THE HERER0S
CAUSE or REBEELroN OF THE
 NATIVES.
Herr Bebel, in Reichstag, Declares the Whites Responsible for the Uprising in German south
 west Africa.

Berlin, March 17.--Herr Bebel. the Socialist leader, speaking in the Reich stag today during the debate on the sup plemenkarx appropriation for German Southwest Africa, said the whites seenl- ed to him to be primarily responsible for the insurfection of the eHreros. The traders, he asserted. persuaded the natives to buy on credit articles which they did not require in their mode of living, charging five hundred per cent oyer their actual value. Thus the natives were in deep debt and their burdens increasing year by year.
 In 1903 the colonial office, to lessen the traders exactions, ruled that debts of certain. kinds due to traders we're not 'collectablb after one year, and the traders proceeded to force the collection by taking cattle at ridiculously low valuations. This ruling, intended to pro- teet the natives, immediately multiplied difference about the debts. The Hereros saw themselves robbed and rebelled The government, Herr Rebel further charged, undertook to transplant to Southernwest Africa its preposterous bureaucratic system as in force at home. For instance, it obliged the natives to get permits to kill jackals.
 Dr. Steubel, director of the colonial of flee, said that from the information so far received. 1t was impossible to draw a final conclusion as to the causes of the uprising. Some coIonials asserted that the native had been harshly treated, while others claimed that Colonel Lieut. vein. the governor Of German Southwest Africa, was too miId in his administra- tion of the affairs of the colony. The colonial oifice had adopted the regula- xa.N.~ HrxS.~. 1t was seen to be necessary to remedy the existing evils in the relations be- tween the traders and natives,
 The further course of the debate had an odd result ranging Herr Bebei ana former Court Preacher 5toecker side by side. Both cited the testimony of mis- sionaries concerning the influence. which the relations between the white settlers and the native women had on the out- break and particularly on certain atroci- ties practiced on the whites in the pres ence of native young women and both de- manded that the government seek the advice of the missionaries. Dr. Stoecler warned the government of the danger os extreme severity and especially against robbing the natives of all property and legal rights.
 During the discussion of the naval esti- mates Herr Bebel referred to the case of Naval Ensign Hussener (who was con victed of killing a soldier at Essen be- cause he did not salute him properly). He declared the people were unable to com prehend the leniency displayed in thil case where the sentence was finally pared down to two years in a fortress whereas two sailors were sentenced tt six and seven years respectively fol beating two non-commissioned ofIicers during a drunken spree in restaraunt Such discrimination. Herr Rebel said wounded the sentiment of people for equa handed justice.
 Admiral von TierpItz. Secretary of thu Admiralty. responding briefly to Herr Be, bel referred to the facts which tho courts regarded as palliative in Huess. ner's case. and said he was not compe- tent Co review the action of the courts