Zulu War, 1879; Zululand (South Africa) -- History -- To 1879
In Mr. Godlonton's "Case for the Colonists" there is abundant
proof of the facts already adduced. The Kafirs were the aggressors
and the colonists the sufferers. Gross injustice, faithlessness,
rapine, and fraud—or in other words, _savagery_—had to be
grappled with, repelled, and conquered in the Cape Colony, and
the pseudo-philanthropists of England, headed by Lord Glenelg,
did everything in their power to aid and assist the latter cause.
Perhaps the most clear proof of the error of the British policy
on which we are now animadverting may be found in the evidence of
one of Lord Glenelg's chosen men and champions. Sir George Napier
was sent out specially to reverse the policy of Sir Benjamin
D'Urban. In answer to a Port Elizabeth address, he said, "I
_decidedly_ tell you that I accepted the government of this colony
in the conviction that the former system, as regarded our Kafir
neighbours, was erroneous; and I am come out here, agreeing in,
and determined to support, the system of policy pursued by the
Lieutenant-Governor of these districts (Captain Stockenstrom) in
accordance with the instructions which his Honour and myself have
received from her Majesty's Secretary of State (Lord Glenelg)."
Nothing can be clearer than this, or more decided; but when Sir
George Napier learnt the facts of the case, the mist of prejudice
dropped from his eyes. Most fortunately, this officer was an honest
man, and dared to give his testimony in favour of the truth in
spite of his employers in England. He found that the policy he
had been directed to carry out "shocked one's natural sense of
justice" (these are his own words), and that he had been completely
duped and deceived. Referring to the aggressions of the Kafirs,
Sir George Napier says, "It would not be just to pass over the
fact that while much loss has been sustained by the colonists,
as stated in the official returns, I am not aware, except in one
instance—and that one of no importance—that any aggression has
been committed by the border colonists against the persons or
property of the neighbouring tribes." It was at Port Elizabeth,
and in the month of October, 1840, that Sir George Napier forcibly
admitted that the Glenelg treaties "seem to shock our sense of
natural justice, and to be unsupported by any considerations of
sound policy." Speaking subsequently to a gathering of the Slambie
and Congo tribes of Kafirs at Fort Peddie, his Excellency said,
"You have sustained no bad treatment on the part of the colonists,
and I now appeal to you whether the colonists have not kept their
part of the treaties ever since they were made? I ask if there
has been a single act of injustice of which you have any reason
to complain on the part of the Government and the colonists?
You will answer, None. I therefore appeal to you for justice
towards the colonists." In fact, Sir George Napier was forced to
thoroughly change his opinions, and it is unnecessary to multiply
proofs of this well-known fact.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account