IsiXhosa Intellectual Traditions (IsiXIT) Digital Archive

Kimberley, 10th July, 1885. SIR, —To Mr. Bokwe I must at once say, that if I was wrong in titling my letter, 'Extraordinary Revelations,' I think I am right in this instance in titling his 'A most Extraordinary Letter.' And in fair ness to him I must explain why. During the course of my experience, it is the first letter I ever came across, which, whilst purporting to deal with an opponent's letter, does not in the least touch any of the statements upon which that letter is based. For it must have struck Mr. Bokwe, as well as other readers, that my letter was based upon two of Dr. Stewart's plain, clear, lucid English allegations. 1st. 'In the Native mind classics pro duce positive evil.' 2nd. 'Classical edu cation at present has been a failure— certainly for the mass of the Native people in their present state.' But Mr. Bokwe, instead of dealing with my arguments with regard to these allegations, has with a singular reticence evaded them, and has pleased himself by bringing for ward a dead collapse of irrelevent state ments. Mr. Bokwe's letter reminds one of what he sometimes comes across in Judicial Courts—of an Advocate who received ' a good fat fee ' to defend a certain person. Just look at him coming into court, dressed in his professional gown and wig, with a brief of the case in his hand, and a lot of law books under his arm. In de fending his client he at once cites this and that passage—this and that case—from this and that law book—makes this and that statement on behalf of his client, and then sits down. But all this has not the slightest weight in the mind of the court, unless it could be shown fully, satisfac torily, and beyond all reasonable doubt, that this and that passage—this and that case—cited from this and that law book— and that this and that statement are rele vant to the issue in question. In the same way, whether I am, according to Mr. Bokwe's opinion, 'a good speaker' or not—'impudent' or not—'ungentle manly' or not—whether my 'offending sentence is clothed in fine polished gar ments of Latin style' or not—whether I am ' a student of Hodge's Theology, and as such well grounded in the doctrine of free will ' or not—and, lastly, whether ' Messrs. Thompson and Weir had to buy natives to come to church ' or not. These statements, no doubt, may or may not be true. But the sole question to decide is, are they relevant and applicable to the point in question? Certainly not; and therefore they are a dead collapse of irre levant statements. Here let me state that I would like to be the last man to bandy personalities with any one, but in this case I feel com pelled to say something. If my opinion is not that of a narrow-minded man then I can safely say Mr. Bokwe's position is ' a peculiar and a delicate one in relation to Dr. Stewart. What I mean is this: Dr. Stewart is Mr. Bokwe's master, and from whom he receives a certain remuneration ; and that being the case, he is the last man I, as well as others, would expect, under any circumstances whatsoever, to say anything against Dr. Stewart. I am saying this advisedly. Take, for instance, the case of any civil servant. Would he be expected to say anything against the Government? Certainly not. Now that is exactly Mr. Bokwe's position; there- fore I, as well as others, I believe, would rather like to hear someone else than Mr. Bokwe on the question of Classics for Natives. But should my attempt to re- mind him of his peculiar and delicate position fail, then I would impress this upon him, that it is only fair to me, as well as others, that he should not beat about the bush, but confine himself to the subject in question. I would also like to point out one or two serious errors in Mr. Bokwe's letter, which are generally the result of intellectual poverty and weakness of judgment. 1st. We find Mr. Bokwe, from the very beginning of his letter, most un- sparingly attacking the Editor of Native Opinion 'for adopting the fashion of the times,' well knowing that Editors are not responsible for the opinions of their correspondents. 2nd. His excessive indulgence in misrepresentations. Mr. Bokwe, dealing with my list of Classical students, says, 'not being at Lovedale and within access to the Institution re- cords, he might be at fault with some of his facts.' The above quotation is Mr. Bokwe's own fabrication; for this is what I said: ' Dr. Stewart being in possession of the statistics of the said Institution, was in a better position than myself as to the exact dates, numbers, and names of the individuals who received their Classical education at Lovedale.' And, further, Mr. Bokwe cites certain statements made by Dr. Stewart, other than those which appeared in my letter, and takes them as a standing point in his reply to my letter. In conclusion may I remind Mr. Bokwe that the subject of my letter, still stands unshaken, as long as he has not proved that classics have produced positive evil in his case. LOVEDALIAN