TRESIDEXTIAL ADDEESS SECTION E. 77 



constantly on the watch lest the high teaching of the Christian 

 religion becomes deteriorated amongst them. i"et mission- 

 aries, as a rule, believe in the conversion of the Bantu tribes. 

 They feel that their message has obtained a real hold on 

 thousands of natives, and this is perhaps the reason Avhy they 

 are more sympathetic to natives than any section of the white 

 poi^ulation. 



But the predication of a new and higher religion is not 

 the only duty of the white race towards the black one. The 

 white man has to rule and to educate the native population; 

 he must consequently exert a considerable amount of authority 

 over it. I will not dwell on the political side of the question. 

 It may be asked to what extent the staff of the Xative Affairs 

 Department really controls and influences the natives. They 

 obey. They cannot help obeying, because they have been 

 conquered. Is the sovereignty of the European acce])ted with 

 a contented heart? I am not quite sure of it, and I think 

 that even in the most loyal natives, in the bflckgroimd of 

 their brains or in the bottom of their hearts, there always 

 remains the dream of a Bantu Xapoleon who. will appear some 

 day and reconquer the land of their fathers for them. This 

 is a burning question. I may only state that in late years 

 criticism of white methods of government has been more and 

 more prevalent, and one thing is sure — the treatment of 

 natives, politically speaking, must be fair and as liberal as 

 possible if we want to preserve the peace of the land. 



I prefer speaking of things I know better, and Avhich are 

 not so dangerous to discuss. To what extent do natives 

 submit themselves to the authority of those persons who try 

 to guide them in a totally disinterested manner — for instance, 

 missionaries at the head of native congregations or principals 

 of native institutions? I leave aside the case of employers on 

 purpose, in order to make the demonstration more convincing. 



Let us be just. Our authority, which is purely moral, 

 which does not rest on any external constraint, which is not 

 backed by any material sanction, is generally well accepted 

 by our converts or by our jjupils. However, one must be very 

 cautious if one intends to be obeyed. The white master will 

 be wise if he presents his decisions under the sliajjc of advices 

 rather than of orders, esjiecially if he wants to enforce 

 anything new, not yet consecrated by custom. He huist also 

 be careful not to trespass uiJon the native laws of " etiquette," 

 and amongst them the law of " tibisa," viz., of giving official 

 information in due time. Should you put a decision into 

 execution without having fully explained all the matter to 

 your natives, jou are sui'e to meet with trouble. These 

 exigencies, after all, can be accepted by the white master, 

 however tedious and useless they may sometimes seem to him. 

 They are part of a sound and sane native policy. Let us 

 respect the peculiarities of the native mind, as long as there 

 is nothing really wrong in them. 



But cases will happen when, though you have observed 

 all the rules of their parliamentary etiquette, your boys will 



