Year: 1868

The name of Moshesh, the chief of the
Bassovtoes, it we'll known in South Africa,
it is not altogether unknown in other parts
the world He welcomed the labors of
missionaries from France, many years
ago, greatly to the profting of his tribe
as the efforts of these devoted men were
eminently successful; and he has shown in
sundry ways, comprehension and appre-
citation of his position and his obligations
as the ruler OF his people, which might be
wisely studied in civilized lands


But though his policy, all along, has
been peace" not in the sense Of Napol-
con Ill, but according to the straighttor-
ward meaning of an honest man, he has
found himself unable to assure the bes-
sings of peace to his people. He has had
for his neighbors, unfortunately, a large
number of Dutch Beers, who are wont to
uphold the lawfulness of slavery by argu-
ments that would have gladdened the heart
Of the most advanced ire-eater in the
Southern Confederacy When the British
government abolished this institution
throughout its dominions. more than thirty
years ago, they (being at that time subject
thereto) were intensely indignant and
they went so far as to refuse to own its
sway any longer. \ divine institution
had been assailed, as they claimed and
they must needs free themselves from all
responsibility for the act \ large number
of them emigrated, therefore, and sought
new fields for the development of their
favorite theory of society.


But with the love of slavery there was
closely allied a thorough dislike of the
black race and with it there was also in
terwoven apassionate greed of land. Hence
a temptation presented itself which the
virtue of these degenerate Dutchmen
found it hard to resist. The country of
Moshesh they greatly coveted and the in
habitants were black. And why should it
not become a white mans country, under
a white mans government


For several years bitter conflict has
been going forward between the Beers
and their neighbors, unequal in the main,
disastrous for the native population on the
whole, but not altogether holiday affair
for the white men Many of these poor
people have been driven from their homes,
many have fallen in battle not few
have died of famine and the diseases con-
sequent thereon the morale of the nation
has been seriously injured; missionary
stations have been broken up; Christianity
and civilization have both receded on the
dial-plate of African history. And yet
Moshesh, while looking out upon the des-
olation caused by his enemies, could feel
that every effort to dislodge him from his
stronghold had failed; that while his own
soldiers had died, the Beers had not escap-
ed \; that while his own people were suffer
ing from hunger, they were sharers in this
sore evil And there was doubtless grim
satisfaction in the thought, that he had
paid no such heavy bills for the war as
they had paid, and that the credit of his
little state had not been shattered as theirs
had been.


And how mortifying the end of this con-
fict. No laurels gained that will not
soon perish. No territory acquired. Dis
cord and disobedient at home, and the
British lion quietly stepping in between
the combatants. and saying to the aggres-
sors, g Retire" Queen Victoria has be-
come the protector of Moshesh, and his
people, in the interest of civilization and