PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:
C.O. 882
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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The "Cernéen," it is true, opposes the theories put forward by the "Sentinelle," but it must not be forgotten that the writer of most of the leading articles of the "Cernéen is the secretary of the Chamber of Agriculture, and that in duty bound, he must as much as possible hide what are the feelings existing between the Creole and Indian population.
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That article of the Sentinelle" (written especially at a time when all reformists. from fear of spoiling their cause, endeavour to conceal what are the real sentiments of the Creoles towards the Indians), shows how despotic are the inclinations of the Creoles towards the Indians; and I must say, that the "Sentinelle" is a paper greatly prized by the majority of those who would be electors with the qualifications proposed in the reform petition, if representative institutions be granted to us.
But if the article of that paper be considered strong against the Indians, what will your Lordship think of the Creole feelings towards the Indians when such articles as Progrés the following are published. I copy the following extracts from the " Colonial."
par.-
EXTRACTS from ARTICLE signed MAURITIANUS, 18th July 1882.
2nd -“ D'autres parlent de faire voter les Asiatiques. Cela n'est pas possible non plus. Nous avons au contraire à prendre des mesures promptes et énergiques pour refouler le flot étranger qui veut tout envahir. Il y a assez longtemps que Nous voulons d'un Conseil les enfants du sol souffrent, qu'ils sont sacrifiés.
Législatif pour tous les créoles sans distinction d'origine ou de religion, mais pour les créoles seuls."
Same article 5th paragraph
"Nous n'hésitons pas à déclarer que si les asiatiques doivent voter, le statu quo est de beaucoup préférable à la situation nouvelle qu'engendreraient les priviléges accordés à des étrangers. Maurice pour les Mauriciens, telle est notre devise.”
Same article, 8th paragraph:-
"Hordes étrangères que nous avons fait venir à grands frais pour les besoins de notre agriculture, quel mauvais génie nous a poussés à ne pas vous renvoyer dans votre presqu'ile après vos cinq années d'engagement. Nous n'aurions pas eu à déplorer tous les maux que l'encombrement nous a valus. En partageant, avec vous le sol que nous foulons et l'air que nous respirons, nous avons en quelque sorte signé l'arrêt de mort de nos descendants. Sic nos, non vobis ! C'est peut-être pour vous que nous reboisons nos montagnes et les berges de nos rivières? C'est peut-être pour vous que nous cana- liserons nos cours d'eau ? C'est peut-être pour vous que l'électricité nous mettra un jour en communication instantanée avec le reste du globe. Est-ce pour vous que nous demandons un Conseil législatif électif? Vous avez pour vous l'avenir, laissez-nous au moins jouir du présent.'
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Extract from article signed X. "Progrès Colonial," 27th July 1882.
2nd paragraph." Vous trouvez que l'Asiatique qui, par son intelligence, son travail et ses capitaux contribue au maintien et au développement de la prospérité publique "Cela ne devrait pas être doit jouir les mêmes droits politiques que vous et moi." par la raison toute simple que cet homme est un étranger et que nous sommes chez Il arrive d'un pays immense pour nous rendre la vie très pénible, très dure. Nous ne pouvons pas lutter avec lui parce qu'il n'a pas les mêmes besoins que nous. Sa civilisation sort à peine de l'enfance. Qu'il aille avec son intelligence et son travail qui étouffent l'intelligence et le travail créole. Qu'il s'en aille avec ses capitaux, que des capitaux anglais remplaceraient.”
"nous.
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And about the middle of next paragraph. Une loi qui refoulerait les Asiatiques "serait une loi préservatrice."
Extract from Article signed XX., 3rd of August 1882 (Progrès Colonial) second paragraph.
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"Nous pouvons Mauriciens dire avec bien plus de raison." (Than the conqueror of Plevna). L'ennemi c'est l'Asiatique Oui, c'est la sangue, le vampire qui boit graduellement le plus pure de notre sang. Et ici pas d'alliance, pas d'entente pos- sible entre les deux éléments, il faut qu'un des deux absorbe l'autre fatalement." Many more examples could be quoted by me did I not fear to take up too much of your Lordship's time, but I think that those already quoted are sufficient to show that there does not exist between the Creole and Indian population such a feeling of solidarity as would entitle any unprejudiced mind to believe that concord will always reign between them.
have not attempted to prove that the Indian population will have less electors than the Creole one (if the qualifications proposed by the sub-committee be the qualifications
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required in case the reform petition be granted), because I think there can be no controversy with regard to that point. The Honourable Cox, in his second speech at the Legislative Council proves that fact. Sir Virgile Naz also expresses that opinion, and several articles written in the papers in answer to the Honourable Antelme's letter
support that assertion.
Your Lordship himself acknowledges in his answer to the reform petition that only a very small number of Indians could be properly included among the electors.
Mr. Raoul in his speech at the Legislative Council attempts to show that there are many more Indians likely to be electors than your Lordship thinks, but re- ferring to the municipal list of electors (whose qualifications are inferior to those asked by the sub-committee) I find that out of 1,449 electors inscribed, there are not a hundred Indian electors, and although their non-inscription as electors may be attri- buted to their indifference, the great difference which exists between the number of the general population and that of the Indians shows that there are very few Indian electors. And besides if they are really as numerous as Mr. Raoul believes them to be, their great indifference for municipal elections show how little they care for elective institutions.
It may be said that the adhesion of the influential members of the Creole community is per se sufficient and that the majority of the educated inhabitants of Mauritius are partisans of the reform. This fact I emphatically deny! .. The inhabitants of Mauritius want a change, but surely if the majority of the educated members of our community had desired such a change as proposed by the reform committee, a much greater number would have signed the reform petition, and I may safely venture to say that the majority of the educated and possessing class has abstained from doing so.
Many things have been said at the Legislative Council on the 21st of December last about the reform of our Constitution, and I consider it useful, for the cause I support, to point out to your Lordship how refutable are most of the arguments of the reform partisans (in Council).
The Honourable Raoul complains of our despotic system of Government, though he acknowledges that it is a despotism allayed with mildness.
The Governor's power, it is true, as it is, is too great to give satisfaction to all the inhabitants of this Colony, and a good many desire it to be checked. The addition of two unofficials is per se a sufficient check to prevent the passing of certain measures advocated by the Governor, and repugnant to the inhabitants in general; and it may also give satisfaction to all, without the risk of hurting the feelings of a part of the population, provided the Indian as well as the Creole population be represented.
The learned member of the Legislative Council pleads warmly for the introduction of elective members into Council, and his arguments seem based on the fact that by the Despatch of the Secretary of State under date the 17th August 1868, the Government expects that the unofficials should co-operate with the Crown in its general policy, and he makes a comparison between the unofficials and elective members, and then inquires whether the good service done by the Council would not have been greater by the adjunction of a popular element.
The Government policy up to this date has given satisfactory results, civilisation has softened the haughty pride of our old aristocracy, better feelings reign between the white and coloured population of this island, and all animosities are held in check by our present system of government. Would it be safe to add to the Legislative Council elective members? and make competition stir up those prejudices of class and colour, which I lament sincerely, but which I am bound to say are far from being as yet extinguished.
Besides, would it be safe to make the greater portion of the population (the Indians who differ from the Creoles in religion, customs, &c.), feel their inferior position ? by the fact that though landowners, traders, &c., they would not be in a position, on account of the qualifications required in the reform petition, to send a member of their own race to the Council.
Mr. Raoul says that the nominees of the Crown cannot escape their origin and that they may be removed at the Governor's pleasure when their opposition becomes too unpalatable. True it is that they are bound to follow the Government policy in certain matters, but that policy has been the real spring of all our prosperity, and surely up to this time it cannot be said that our unofficials were lack of independence. We must now remember that in the Despatch of the Secretary of State, dated the 17th August 1868, the unofficials, though they are not to oppose Government policy on important
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