A Century of Wrong by F. W. Reitz
page 26 of 192 (13%)
page 26 of 192 (13%)
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steps whatever to receive their share of the compensation.
Greyheads and widows who had lived in ease and comfort went down poverty-stricken to the grave, and gradually the hard fact was borne in upon us that there was no such thing as Justice for us in England. [Sidenote: Slavery at the Cape.] Froude, the English historian, hits the right nail on the head when he says:-- [5] "Slavery at the Cape had been rather domestic than predial; the scandals of the West India plantations were unknown among them. Because the Dutch are a deliberate and slow people, not given to enthusiasm for new ideas, they fell into disgrace with us, where they have ever since remained. The unfavourable impression of them became a tradition of the English Press, and, unfortunately, of the Colonial Office. We had treated them unfairly as well as unwisely, and we never forgive those whom we have injured." [Sidenote: The Glenelg policy.] [6] But this was not all. When the English obtained possession of the Cape Colony by convention, the Fish River formed the eastern boundary. The Kaffirs raided the Colony from time to time, but especially in 1834, when they murdered, plundered, and outraged the helpless Colonists in an awful and almost indescribable manner. The Governor was ultimately prevailed upon to free the strip of territory beyond the Fish River from the raids of the Kaffirs, and this was done by the aid of the Boers. But |
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