IsiXhosa Intellectual Traditions (IsiXIT) Digital Archive

LOVEDALE IN 1884. IT will, we think, surprise no one in these distracted times that the report of this great Institution for last year should begin with the words that 'in some departments ' there is a marked advance, in 'others as marked a falling off.' The advance, it is reported, appears in the Educational department, and, as was to be expected, the falling off is in the Industrial department where the present business depression has made its baneful influence felt. It must be gratifying, however, to the authorities of the Institution, and cannot but be satisfactory to the friends and w'ell-wishers of mission work among our people, that whatever causes of disappointment there may be in the results educationally and industrially, these are more than counterbalanced by spiritual results which are the crown¬ing end of all missionary efforts. Of these results the report states ' the 'year has undoubtedly been more ' than unusually productive.' Those who, like ourselves, have been trained to count all material results as of less value than manifestations of moral and spiritual activities, will surely regard the past year as hav¬ing been a successful one for Love¬dale. And Dr. STEWART and his co-workers may, therefore, take courage and proceed. This being our view, then, we may with freedom discharge our public duty with respect to the general statements of the report, and we trust our remarks will not be misconstrued into the assaults of the enemy. With the statements of the main features of the year's work as the basis, the report at once plunges into ' the question of Native educa¬tion, ' and under this heading con¬tributions during the year on this subject by natives are noticed. Dr. STEWART brings to the consideration of the question a broad practical view, to which no reasonable native, we venture to say, will take exception. ' There is a view or feeling,' the Doctor observes, ' growing among a 'portion of the educated Natives ' themselves, and who say: ' The ' ' education at present given is not ''high enough or wide enough.' They ' ask,' we are told, ' whether ' their teachers or missionaries for ' example did not enjoy a college or ' university training at home, and ' whether that has not been a great ' advantage to them. They say : ''Give us the same advantages ''here.'' Everybody is bound to be struck by the school-boy simplicity of this demand. And Dr. STEWART well reminds these unsophisticated alumni that 'they ' forget that such an education falls ' to the lot of but very few even in ' Europe, and still fewer in South ' Africa, and that the real question ' is—not what is best for the ' special few ? but—what is best ' for the many ?' W^e are very pleased to hear Dr. STEWART'S admission that ' for the special few ' who shew ability, perseverance, ' and moral strength, we are but ' too glad to make special provision. ' And for those who have means, ' and choose to pay, the highest ' education the Colony affords, is ' open without distinction of colour.' The italics are our own, and it is necessary our people should note the italicized expression for we believe there is a general impression that colour has had no small weight in the discussion of these matters last year. And we rejoice that so far as Lovedale is concerned Dr. STEWART has spoken with no uncer¬tain sound on this question of draw¬ing the line at mere colour. This phase of the educational controversy is closed with the statement of tho end of the ordinary Lovedale curri¬culum which aims at preparing ' for the Teachers' Honours Exam¬ination.' Those totally opposed to any school education of Natives, and who still affect to be anxious for their improvement by advocating their training in industrial pursuits, are disposed of in the brief but sensible sentences that ' intelligent ' careful work can only be expected, ' and can only be got from appren- il tices with some knowledge of ' English and the three R's. It 'is found nearly impossible to ' teach a trade to a native lad without this. Dr. DALE, in com-municating the results of last year's inspection, says ' the work of the ' institution is thoroughly satisfac- ' tory.' The figures at inspection were 183 boys who were classified as follows : V (or highest Govern¬ment Standard), 13 ; Standard IV, 54; III, 63; II, 34; I, 14; and below Standard, 2. Girls—V, 6; IV, 12; III, 44; II, 18; I, 17; and below Standard, 5. The passes at public examinations during the year were at the Elementary Teachers' Examination, one boy in honours and four in the pass list. Also two private pupils are returned as having passed the Cape Univer¬sity Matriculation—one in honours and the other in the pass list. During the year in the institution proper the numbers were 385 of both sexes, of whom about 30 were Europeans. The fees reached the total of £1,867, of which the Euro¬pean pupils contributed £500. The other details respecting the classes may be regarded as of value as local memoranda, and though their min¬ute consideration would still go far to show the magnitude of the work in which worthy Scotch sons are engaged, they must necessarily be mentioned only in an article of moderate length. Among the most prominent achievements of the year may be noticed, as towering above the rest, the assorted articles made by native apprentices and girls of the Industrial Department for the Cape Exhibition, which excited the wonder of the South African world, and drew from not a few of the sceptics in Native education unextorted acknowledgement of the capacity of Natives when trained. Much, however, has been said on this before now. But having thus touched upon the salient points of the report, we may close by wishing the institution a good and prosperous year. THE COMING SESSION. P ARLIAMENT commences its sittings on Friday next, the 15th of May, when his Excellency the Governor will, according to custom, read the Opening Speech prepared by his Ministers. The Speech, of course, will more or less foreshadow the nature of business that the representatives of the people will be called upon to transact. We are directly concerned with the measures which will emanate from the Ministerial Department of Native Affairs. Two measures of considerable moment will, we are in a position to state, be submitted to Parliament by the Native Minister which we shall expect to see referred to in the Governor's Speech. These are a Pass Laws Amendment Bill and a Bill to deal with the Government of the Transkeian territories. We have taken occasion before to state the Native opinion on the first named measure. Our people are unanimous in considering the Pass System as unnecessary and vexatious. They think the Cattle Removal and the A agrancy Acts sufficient to check persons of doubtful character from roaming over the country with eyes prying into other peoples' concerns. The Malays, Hottentots, and other coloured classes who are fortunate enough not to wear a dark hue are pointed at as having been free from the pass, still, though they themselves lay no claims to being SIMON PURES, they have not monopolised stealing. It is con¬tended that severe pass regulations have not checked stealing in the past; that the pass has merely answered the purpose of hampering honest and industrious black men in the struggle for existence, and grossly interfered with the liberty of the subject. As Mr. DE WET'S Bill is not yet before the country, it is not at present necessary co say more. Then with regard to the Bill dealing with the Transkeian Gov¬ernment, it is believed that legis¬lation will be based upon the very elaborate and exhaustive report of the Native Laws and Customs Commission which was laid before Parliament in the 1883 session. Though the Government has done itself injustice, as we think, by not giving the country an opportunity of discussing this subject, and thus assist the Legislature in dealing with so vital a question, we believe the Ministry may depend upon it that they are on firm ground if they have adopted the sagacious and practical recommendations of that Commission. We shall do our duty in noticing the Government Bill when it is published. The leading features of the Report respecting the Transkei may, how¬ever, be briefly stated here. A Penal Code was drafted on the safe and sound bases that ' while it ' adopts the general principles ' of the existing Colonial Law, ' endeavours to remedy its defects, ' and retains some laws and prin- ' ciples dear to natives, and which ' commend themselves as proper for ' those territories.' The code is to be enforced in the Taanskeian terri¬tories without distinction of class or colour. The law is to be canied out by magistrates, whose sentences are to be subject to review by a High Court presided over by a Recorder. In that Court trial by jury will be followed, and qualifications of jurors will not be race or colour, but intelligence and character. The Commission proposed that the general government of the terri- tories should be through a deputy¬governor, assisted by a Native Council. SIMPLE JUSTICE. O N Thursday, the 2nd April, PETER WAUCHOPE (a Native lad) left Port Elizabeth by night train for Graham's Town. When the train stopped at the West Hill Station on Friday morning the Guard came to the carriage in which PETER was, and asked for his ticket, which was produced at once; but in the hurry to get out his ticket which he had put in his purse, PETER let fall some of his money (a ten shilling piece). The Guard at once said, ' Get down and pick it up sharp.' PETER got down, and whilst in the act of picking up the coin, a shunter, ELLENTON by name, came up and, without asking for an explanation, began to kick and strike at PETER who at last managed to grasp the coin together with a handful of gravel. The shunter continued kicking and striking at him, and even followed him into the carriage. All this time the train was standing still, and the Guard examining tickets. Shunter ELLENTON then locked the carriage door, saying, ' I am not done with you yet, my man.' When the train reached the Terminus Station, PETER was at once given in custody and marched off to gaol. A message was at once sent to his brother, the Magis¬trate's Interpreter at Port Elizabeth, and through him the railway autho¬rities in Port Elizabeth were set in motion. Somehow or other no one appeared to prosecute PETER, who was discharged by the Magistrate on Saturday morning. The facts of the ease were at once lodged with Inspec¬tor BROWN of the Railway Department, Port Elizabeth, with the result that on the 4th inst., Mr. ISAAC WAUCHOPE received the following kind letter from Inspector JAMES MCLAREN BROWN :— [Complaint against Shunter Ellenton of Graham's Town.'] Port Elizabeth, April 30, 1885. SIR,—I have the honour to inform you that I have taken up the matter in re your complaint. I exceedingly regret the oc¬currence which gave cause to it, at the same time I am obliged by your bringing it to my notice. To show that this depart¬ment will protect the travelling public, I may inform you that the employe com¬plained of has been dismissed from the service, for his rude behaviour on this occasion. I am, & cc., Your obedient servant, (Signed) J. BROWN, Inspector. To Mr. Isaac Wauchope, Interpreter, & c., Port Elizabeth. To the above Mr. WAUCHOPE replied as follows :— Port Elizabeth, May 5, 1885. SIR,—I am most thankful to you for your having taken the matter of my brother's assault and imprisonment at Graham's Town. The whole thing reflects great credit on the efficiency of the Rail¬way department generally, and of your own department in particular, in carrying out the strictest justice in order to secure the protection of the public without dis¬tinction of colour. My brother's case is but one of many cases in which the Native traveller is taken advantage of by some of the so-called railway officials, and the only reason I can assign for the fewness of complaints is, not that their complaints would not be attended to if lodged with the proper authorities, but because they think that the bullying and knocking about which they receive are part of the duty of the officials, and that therefore it would be futile to complain against a man who simply performs his duty. I am perfectly aware of the annoyance given to the Railway officials by Native passengers who are, in most cases ignorant of the rules of the Railway department; but there is ample provision in the Railway law for the protection of those whose duty it is to protect life and property, so that Mr. Ellenton had no need to commit an assault. Your conduct in this case, sir, deserves the thanks of every Kafir or Native. You have cleared the Railway department of a very serious charge, namely, of only pro¬tecting those of the public who have a white skin, and leaving the man of colour out in the cold. Again thanking you for your trouble in the matter, I am, dear sir, Yours sincerely, ISAAC WAUCHOPE, Interpreter, & c., Resident Magistrate's Court, Port Elizabeth. To James McLaren Brown, Inspector Railway Department.