South Africa -- Description and travel; South Africa -- History -- 1836-1909; South Africa -- History -- To 1836
I say this rather in a desire to tell the truth than in a spirit of
boasting. I do not know why I should wish that the use of my own tongue
should supersede that of the native language in a foreign country. And
the fact as I state it will go far with some thinkers to prove the
arguments to have been ill-founded with which I have endeavoured to shew
that the Republic will retain her independence. Such persons will say
that this preference for the English language will surely induce a
preference for English Government. To such persons I would reply first
that the English language was spoken in the United States when they
revolted. And I would then explain that the schools of which I am
speaking are all in the capital, which is undoubtedly an English town
rather than Dutch. In the country, from whence come the Members of the
Volksraad, the schools are probably much more Dutch, though by no means
so Dutch as are the Members themselves. The same difference prevails in
all things in which the urban feeling or the rural feeling is exhibited.
Nothing can be more Dutch than the Volksraad. Many members, I was
assured, cannot speak a word of English. The debates are all in Dutch.
But the President was chosen from a British community, having been a
member of the Cape House of Assembly, and the Government Secretary was
imported from the same Colony,--and the Chief Justice. As I have said
above the Inspector of Schools is a Scotchman. The Boers of the Orange
Free State have been too wise to look among themselves for occupants for
these offices. But they believe themselves to be perfectly capable of
serving their country as legislators. Nothing can be better than these
public schools in Bloemfontein, giving another evidence of the great
difference which existed in the internal arrangements of the two
Republics. Large grants of public money have been made for the support
of the Free State schools. In 1875 £18,000 was voted for this purpose,
and in 1876 £10,000. Money is also set aside for a permanent educational
fund which is to be continued till the amount in hand is £176,800. This
it is thought will produce an income sufficient for the required
purpose.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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