Part 11 (1/2)
In his speech at the opening of the Cape Parliament on the 18th April, 1872, Sir Henry Barkly said:--
”The Sovereignty of Her Majesty was therefore proclaimed and brought into operation with the _full consent of the diggers_, and the Government has since been carefully and efficiently administered, notwithstanding considerable difficulties.”
The _Diamond News_ of the 1st May, 1872, says, in referring to this speech:--
”Of the three short paragraphs which immediately concern us, the first is one of self-congratulation--the diggers and other inhabitants of Griqualand accept the British Government with heartfelt satisfaction.
Sir Henry says nothing of the unaccountable and daily increasing dissatisfaction with that Government, and perhaps he knows nothing of it, as it would be an act of suicide for the Commissioners, which they would not be guilty of, to report about the prevailing feelings.”
On the 30th May, 1872, the _Diamond Fields_ said:--
”There can be no doubt that the population of the Diamond Fields are strongly opposed to annexation to the Cape Colony.
”If anything like a plebiscite could be taken, the votes against being put under the Cape Government would be in the proportion of nine to one ... even the Free State Government would get two votes to one if the Cape Town Government were the only other candidate.”
In December, 1871, scarcely a month after the dispersion of the Free State authorities and the const.i.tution of Sir Henry Barkly's junta, lynch law broke out. Lawlessness and general insecurity prevailed everywhere (see _Diamond News_, 17th January, 20th March, 17th July, 1872).
One reads in the _Diggers' Gazette_ of the 26th April, 1872:--
”No one would wish to ask for a continuation of the existing state of affairs. Only entirely mischievous people could wish for the continuation of such a failure as our Commissioners of British rule have brought about on these Fields. We have formerly expressed ourselves openly about this matter, and our local contemporaries have done the same.”
The following remarks were made in the _Diamond News_ of the 16th December, 1871:--
”A description of Du Toit'span by night lately appeared in the _Diamond News_ as it used to be under the admittedly unsatisfactory Free State police, and, by way of contrast, as it now is, after the withdrawal of that police. The comparison is not flattering to the strength of mind or administrative capability of our present rulers, and a comparison of Free State administration with Cape administration would in no way be more favourable to the latter.
”The British Government, so highly prized, which would put everything to rights and would do so much for the diggers, has brought the camps back to their original position of having to protect themselves.”
In the _Diamond News_ of the 10th July, 1872 (eight months after the const.i.tution of Sir Henry Barkly's rule), the following criticisms appear:--
”Robberies are becoming so frequent that if we were only to relate the particulars of those that have been brought to our notice we would require more s.p.a.ce than our limits will allow. Innumerable petty thefts are pa.s.sed by without punishment. This is certainly a charming state of affairs! And the question naturally arises--how long will this continue?
Thieves, black and white, experienced and dangerous, and yet no night police to stop their illegal actions! Shall we get no night police, or must the scoundrels, who are poisoning our camps continually, enjoy the immunity and freedom which they now appear to have?”
On the 26th July lynch law and revolt broke out afresh in an extensive way at New Rush, the princ.i.p.al diggings. The _Diggers' Gazette_ made the following remarks about this:--
”As long as Judge Lynch remains free to hold his court and to levy his punishments, for so long can the whole framework and machinery of lawful authority just as well cease to exist.
”Authority cannot maintain its claim to be respected as long as persons suffering under the sense of having been injured take the law into their own hands, solely because of the proved incapability of those in authority to protect them where their interests mostly need protection.
”Day after day, and night after night, the one or other part of the camp is entertained by the edifying spectacle of natives being thrashed, tents being burnt, and white people surrounded by ferocious crowds who can scarcely be kept back from carrying out their desire for vengeance by a small truncheon and a thick thong.
”We do not wish to justify this state of affairs, but we cannot shut our eyes to the injustice which almost makes it a necessity. No magistrate, however exceptional, counts against the absence of such laws, discipline, and police as our circ.u.mstances demand, and through want of which there is no other prospect than that terrorism which arises out of a blind struggle against anarchy.”
The _Diamond News_, in its issue of 20th July, 1872, says:--
”The copious news in our columns, and the reports of meetings, as well as the scenes which take place every night at ma.s.s meetings in this time of excitement, uproar and confusion, take up nearly all our princ.i.p.al columns. We heartily wish that the fire may be speedily got under, or else it is very much to be feared that the end will be dreadfully injurious to the safety and welfare of the innocent.”
On the 19th July, 1872, a very large meeting of diggers was held at the Market Square, New Rush, when the following resolution, among others, was unanimously pa.s.sed:--