Native Life in South Africa [190]
inspires the confidence that a consensus of British opinion will, in the Union's interest, stay the hand of the South African Government, veto this iniquity and avert the Nemesis that would surely follow its perpetration.
Her mind must have been riveted on South Africa when, quite recently, Ida Luckie sang: --
Alas, My Country! Thou wilt have no need Of enemy to bring thee to thy doom. . . . For not alone by war a nation falls. Though she be fair, serene as radiant morn, Though girt by seas, secure in armament, Let her but spurn the vision of the Cross; Tread with contemptuous feet on its command Of mercy, Love and Human Brotherhood, And she, some fateful day, shall have no need Of enemy to bring her to the dust.
Some day, though distant it may be -- with God A thousand years are but as yesterday -- The germs of hate, injustice, violence, Like an insidious canker in the blood, Shall eat that nation's vitals. She shall see Break forth the blood-red tide of anarchy, Sweeping her plains, laying her cities low, And bearing on its seething, crimson flood The wreck of Government, of home, and all The nation's pride, its splendour and its power. On with relentless flow, into the seas Of God's eternal vengeance wide and deep. But, for God's grace! Oh may it hold thee fast, My Country, until justice shall prevail O'er wrong and o'er oppression's cruel power, And all that makes humanity to mourn.
[End of original text.]
[Original Advertisements.]
Some Opinions of the Press on the First Edition
"It is difficult to believe that such barbarities are possible; but Mr. Plaatje gives chapter and verse for every one of his indictments; the Act itself is quoted in extenso; various debates in the Colonial Parliament are given, and arguments for and against the Act furnished by the different speakers. The whole book is really interesting, and will come as a great surprise to many English people who know little of the South African Native as an educated, thinking human being, and will certainly excite sympathy with his present precarious state under colonial laws, which seem to be little inspired by the principles of justice and liberty which British supremacy formerly guaranteed." -- `Yorkshire Observer'.
"Whatever may have been the intention of the home Government, in practice this Act has meant the restriction of Natives to their reservations, or to servitude among the white population. Mr. Plaatje states his case clearly and asserts that this movement is reactionary and a false step on the part of the Government to placate the extreme Dutch party in South Africa." -- `Glasgow Herald'.
"The author makes an excellent case for the consideration of the Imperial Government. He convincingly proves that the fortunes of the native races should not have been handed over to the Dutch Republicans without adequate safeguards. He gratefully acknowledges the enthusiastic support given to the Natives by the British settlers and appeals for an inquiry. The interest of the book for the Punjabis consists, not in the similarity of the grievances, for we here have no such grievance against the Government, but in showing the way for inviting attention to the injustice involved in excluding a large class of Hindus from agriculture." -- `The Tribune', Lahore.
"It is a serious case, well and ably put, and the evidence embodied in it is very disquieting. Here at any rate is a book which makes the native agitation intelligible and may conceivably have an influence on future events in South Africa -- and at home, for by no legal fiction can the Imperial power dissociate itself from responsibility for Native affairs." -- `Birmingham Post'.
"The supporters of the Act do not make the principles attractive in explaining them. Mr. J. G. Keyter, Member for Ficksburg, said "they should tell the Native as the Free State told him, that it was white man's country, that he was not going to be allowed to buy land
Her mind must have been riveted on South Africa when, quite recently, Ida Luckie sang: --
Alas, My Country! Thou wilt have no need Of enemy to bring thee to thy doom. . . . For not alone by war a nation falls. Though she be fair, serene as radiant morn, Though girt by seas, secure in armament, Let her but spurn the vision of the Cross; Tread with contemptuous feet on its command Of mercy, Love and Human Brotherhood, And she, some fateful day, shall have no need Of enemy to bring her to the dust.
Some day, though distant it may be -- with God A thousand years are but as yesterday -- The germs of hate, injustice, violence, Like an insidious canker in the blood, Shall eat that nation's vitals. She shall see Break forth the blood-red tide of anarchy, Sweeping her plains, laying her cities low, And bearing on its seething, crimson flood The wreck of Government, of home, and all The nation's pride, its splendour and its power. On with relentless flow, into the seas Of God's eternal vengeance wide and deep. But, for God's grace! Oh may it hold thee fast, My Country, until justice shall prevail O'er wrong and o'er oppression's cruel power, And all that makes humanity to mourn.
[End of original text.]
[Original Advertisements.]
Some Opinions of the Press on the First Edition
"It is difficult to believe that such barbarities are possible; but Mr. Plaatje gives chapter and verse for every one of his indictments; the Act itself is quoted in extenso; various debates in the Colonial Parliament are given, and arguments for and against the Act furnished by the different speakers. The whole book is really interesting, and will come as a great surprise to many English people who know little of the South African Native as an educated, thinking human being, and will certainly excite sympathy with his present precarious state under colonial laws, which seem to be little inspired by the principles of justice and liberty which British supremacy formerly guaranteed." -- `Yorkshire Observer'.
"Whatever may have been the intention of the home Government, in practice this Act has meant the restriction of Natives to their reservations, or to servitude among the white population. Mr. Plaatje states his case clearly and asserts that this movement is reactionary and a false step on the part of the Government to placate the extreme Dutch party in South Africa." -- `Glasgow Herald'.
"The author makes an excellent case for the consideration of the Imperial Government. He convincingly proves that the fortunes of the native races should not have been handed over to the Dutch Republicans without adequate safeguards. He gratefully acknowledges the enthusiastic support given to the Natives by the British settlers and appeals for an inquiry. The interest of the book for the Punjabis consists, not in the similarity of the grievances, for we here have no such grievance against the Government, but in showing the way for inviting attention to the injustice involved in excluding a large class of Hindus from agriculture." -- `The Tribune', Lahore.
"It is a serious case, well and ably put, and the evidence embodied in it is very disquieting. Here at any rate is a book which makes the native agitation intelligible and may conceivably have an influence on future events in South Africa -- and at home, for by no legal fiction can the Imperial power dissociate itself from responsibility for Native affairs." -- `Birmingham Post'.
"The supporters of the Act do not make the principles attractive in explaining them. Mr. J. G. Keyter, Member for Ficksburg, said "they should tell the Native as the Free State told him, that it was white man's country, that he was not going to be allowed to buy land