The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-08
MACHINE Gun AND ASsEGAI.
Position and Prospects or South African
Natiyes-A Proposed Solution.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: The
news from South Africa this morning disposes
OF any expectation that the trouble raised by
the imposition Of the poll tax on the natives
would be settled peacefully. The only Ques-
ton il whether there is sufficient solidarity
among the native chiefs and tribes to bring
them to make common cause. or whether
they will allow themselves to be crushed in
detail. The fact that they are still fighting
with a~ssegais shows that their chances are
very small in battling against modern rifles
and machine guns. as was the case reported
In this mornings dispatches,
Papers and correspondence received from
South Africa by the last mail describe the dis
turbance among the natives as covering a
very wide area. The Swazis were becoming
affected by it, and the Basutos were much
agitated by repor,s from JOHANNESBURG that
they were going to be compelled to throw
their country open to mining companies to
work the gold and other deposits said to
have been discovered by explorers. Lord
Selborne, the British High Commissioner for
South Africa, had been to Maseru. the capital,
where. with the British Resident In Basuto-
land. he had held conferences with the native
chiefs to induce them to keep their people
from taking part in possible trouble else
where. As the Rasutos are capable of putting
more than 10000 warriors into the field. a
large proportion Of them mounted and armed
with rifles. mostly Mausers. which they are
supposed to have obtained during the late
Boer war, their neutrality would be a matter
Of the first Importance.
AZ TO the original cause of the trouble. It Ia
of the natives who had adopted Christianity
10 do entirely without the white missionaries
and their agents In order to accomplish this
chapels controlled by white men and put up
primitive buildings ON their reservations
iaS For some JASON these latter caused
these buildings to be demolished or burned
down. Cne correspondent says that in this
way II was intended to put down an exhibition
of lndependence which might extend beyond
religious into political matters Whatever
the real reason for the action Of the authori;
ties may have been, the discomfort caused
by it was at its height when the collection Of
the newly Imposed poll tax, beginning before
the date fixed, brought matters to a head
through the killing Of an inspector Of police
and n constable In the country near Pieter-
Sir James Hulett. a member of the Natal
Legislative Assembly and former Minister
Of Native Affairs, has been, giving expression
to some very pronounced opinions on the
He would solve the problem by giving the
natives some form of representation, not in
the way of a. political franchise. but by the
institution OF a council of chiefs or some
similar form OF political organization. At the
same time he said the magistrates ought TO
be taken from n higher class. and he mounted
police thoroughly reformed. rs they were at
present detcsted throughout the native loca-
lions owing 10 thelr Il|lScOnuuCl ana iuTpOTull-
ties. Sir James Hulett also urged the Gov
ernment 70 be careful about imposing on
DiniHulu, the 1uelling Of the revolt, These
views OF an expert or the question at the
present moment are OF value.
In addition to the trouble with the Kaflrs,
the Incidence Of the poll tax and the manner
of its collection, together with the imposition
of heavy fines IN cases OF tritiing and often
unavoidable delay where, the money 10 pay
could not be found Immediately. were causing
a great outcry among the British Indians
working in Natal or engaged in trade.
The Dutch of northwestern Natal also
were organizing for political act ion in har-
lnony with those in the other colonies. the
Transvaal, Orange and Cape Colony. 4
conference of the Dutch speaking farmers,
associations had been held and a number OF
regulations were drawn up and passed. the
second and chief Of which wns that Dutch
shall be the official language OF that congress
which IL was determined by the first reSolu-
ton should he organized TO meet annually at
such time and place as should be determined
by the conference. This would raise some
doubt as to how far harmony can be pre-
served between the Dutch and British in
Natal when the native question has been
disposed Of In one way or another, +.
INV YORK. Mav7