IsiXhosa Intellectual Traditions (IsiXIT) Digital Archive

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26,1885. OUR NEW MAGISTRATE. THE intimation given in the lo¬cal newspapers last week that Mr, WILLIAM BUCHANAN CHALMERS would shortly arrive to assume his civil and magisterial duties in this town and district is undoubtedly the best news it has been the good fortune of the natives to hear for some time. And his appointment can only be regarded as one of the best things for which the natives have to thank the pre¬sent Government. Mr. CHALMERS is one of the very few Magistrates in the service of the Colony, who dare to uphold the dignity of the law, and who are actuated by feelings of justice and fair play between man and man, irrespective of caste, creed, or colour. That his popu¬larity among the natives should be immense, is not to be wondered at. Mr. CHALMERS is thoroughly versed in native character. He knows that Natives are keenly sensitive of justice, and equally so of injustice, He knows how they strongly resent shabby treatment, even in small things. Above all, he po- sesses that great secret of success in Native Administration which consists in the due appreciation of the great gift of the Kafir—argu¬ment. Most white people are not aware that Natives regard speeches and arguments as of no value what¬soever unless they result in a unan¬imous understanding. It puzzles Natives altogether to hear that there is such a thing as deciding questions by majorities. The non¬appreciation of these factors in Native Government has produced much mischief in the past. We therefore feel hopeful when we notice a disposition in Government to place in positions of trust and responsibility in districts where there are large masses of Natives, men capable of understanding and able to sympathise with Natives, ami in wh'm Natives place implicit confidence. Mr. CHALMERS, Mr. NIGHTINGALE, Mr. EGBERT GARCIA, Captain BLYTH, and Mr. DICK, are such men. It is to be hoped the country will long enjoy the benefit of the' services of such gentlemen in districts where Natives abouud. We believe that much of the com¬plexity and perplexity of the Native Question would be sensibly reduced by the concentration of such gentle¬men in places where questions per¬taining to Natives chiefly force themselves into prominence. We are satisfied those cut and dried so- called- ' Native Policies,' will al¬ways result in mischief in this country, while much may be done by the appointment of the right stamp of officials among the Na¬tives. We sincerely wish that Mr. CHALMERS' administration will be for the good of our people, and therefore for the good of this dis¬trict. Perhaps it may not here be out of place to reproduce the speech of Mr. MCGREGOR, the chairman at a farewell banquet given Mr. CHALMERS at Kokstad. It shows how satisfactorily he presided over East Griqualand :— In proposing the health of our retiring Chief Magiatrate, Mr. Chalmers, I beg to make a few remarks. Mr. Chalmers, Sir, as chairman of this company of friends, which I consider a fairly representative meeting of East Griqualanders, I could have wished that the task of addressing you had been committed to on© more gifted in speech than myself. However, I yield to none in respect and esteem for you io your public and private character. You inherit, a name, Sir, known and honoured throughout Cape Colony. You are the representative and connecting link between the past and present adminis¬tration of our Native Policy. A galaxy of names cornes up to my memory of those who have served in the Civil Service of the Cape Colony. I mention such names as Stretch Mackinnon, Maclean, Gawler, and Colley —the latter whom yon succeeded in the Transkei—whose bones lie on Majuba Hill, but whose memory, I trust, is green with HB here to-night. And Brownlee—Brownlee, whose name is stilt a power. Long may it bo so. 1 hope hie health may be restored, and that he may yet be of service to the country he has served so well, and which needs bim still I say, Sir, you are the representative of those men—-famoue men whose names will be handed down with honour in the annals of their country. For am happy to be able to bear testimony that you, Sir, arc a man and a magistrate, who considers all men equal before the law, and mav safely state that you are not of the opinion of some of our legislators of the Western Districts, who seem to flatter themselves that the Contin-. ent of Africa, has been created for their special inheritance. This is doubtless a great fallacy. Nations do not die out un less there is a cause. A decade of years will doubtless change all these crude and absurd ideas. The labour, patience, and educational policy of such men us I have named, and many men whom I might name, has enabled the Government of Cape Colony—slowly it may be, but surely—to raise the Native races, so that to-day I may confidently say there are now a class of Natives who are fitted—and no doubt will claim the right—to assert themselves as equals in ability to their European com. peers, either as legislators or any other po- sition in life. I have dwelt longer on this matter of Natives and Native Policy, than I might have done, but I would like it to be known that there are men in this country who do not share, but repudiate such views, and ideas as those of the members for Riv- ersdale and Malmesbury, Of such, I think, nre you Mr. Chalmers, else 1 should consider you a renegade from the noble training you have received. We had hoped you would have been able to remain with us. But such is not to be. We wish yon heat lily a pros, perous career in whatever position you are called upon tn fill, and in taking leave of you I candidly say that the longer you have been here the more you have grown in our esteem. Your clearance of judgment, your patience and courtesy, has grown upon this community day by day. Your word given is proverbial for a true performance. Little more remains for me to say. We trust the time you have spent amongst us will give you a still larger view of this Colony and its dependencies. If so, such education will not be lost upon you ; and when far distant from us we hope that not th© least pleasant of your reminiscences may be your term of office in