CO882-(2-3) — Page 34

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference --

C.O.882

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

70

If immigrants were treated with justice and humanity, missionaries here would have a fair field for their labours among the Indians, whose prejudices become rapidly weakened in a country, where, to lose their caste, no longer entails the consequences which it has in India, and where only a few Brahmins are interested in its preservation. On their return to India they might be the means of diffusing some small measure of European civilization among such of their countrymen as would receive them, and greatly aid by their example the spread of a purer religion; but while kept in a state of bondage they will always seek such poor consolation as their own religion can afford them, and look with aversion on that of their masters.

England wisely allows great liberty to her Colonies in the enactment of their own laws; but here concessions in the direction of self-Government are converted into the oppression of another and more numerous race.

It should be remembered that Planters and magistrates here may be the sons of Mauritius slave-holders, many of them with a perfect recollection of the actual times of slavery, and, it may be, imbued with the ideas which slavery engenders; and a careful watch should be kept over the laws, and especially the power of appending regulations to them, which are to receive the Royal assent. For how, otherwise than by surprise or oversight, could the present Labour Laws have been enacted, they being in direct contradiction to the will of Her Majesty, as expressed in the instructions issued to his Excellency Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon, by which it is provided that assent shall not be given in the Queen's name to "any Ordinance whereby persons not of European birth or descent may be subjected or made liable to any disabilities or restrictions to which persons of European birth or descent are not also subjected or made liable."

In order, therefore, that the British flag, which sets the African slaves at liberty, and which should be everywhere the sign of freedom, may no longer protect a system which comes very near to the enslaving of British subjects, the remedy is most obvious, most just; it is only necessary that Her Majesty's intentions should be fully carried out, and that it be in consequence decreed that "In every English Colony, any Ordinance made, or that may hereafter be made, whereby persons not of European birth or descent, may be subjected or made liable to any disabilities or restrictions to which persons of European birth, or descent are not also subjected or made liable, shall, ipso facto, bo null and void.'

"I conclude with the fervent hope that Indian immigrants all over the world may soon be restored to that freedom which it is the will of Her Most Gracious Majesty that all her subjects should enjoy.

(Signed)

Port Louis, Mauritius, August 3, 1871.

Inclosure 2 in No. 21.

ADOLPHE DE PLEVITZ.

Extract from the "Progrès Colonial" of October 12, 1871.

Il n'y avait qu'un sot, capable de porter une accusation semblable, méconnaissant en tout point la fierté et l'orgueil des Mauriciens. Il n'est que trop vrai, pourtant, que cette fierté et cet orgueil, qui enfantaient des prodiges, se sont bien effaces, puisque vingt milles Créoles restent froids et impassibles, en écoutant l'accusation qu'un misé- rable étranger porte contre eux dans un écrit public, où ils sont considérés comme des hommes se parjurant devant les tribunaux, et sous serment, pour six pence

Si vous avez borreur du sang (nos mœurs sont devenues si douces), mettez-vous donc, Créoles, cinq ou six

pour payer les frais d'un procès, et poursuivez donc ce calomniateur qui n'a pas craint de vous jeter l'injure à la face, en vous appelant menteurs, et en disant à haute et intelligible voix que vous vous parjurez pour six pence.

Allez-vous nous forcer à entrer dans l'arène, nous qui sommes partisans de la peine du fouet et de la peine de mort! Est-ce qu'il se rencontrerait plus d'énergie, plus de véritable courage, plus de juste fierté dans le cœur de ceux qui disent et qui com- prennent que le sang est nécessaire pour laver tous les affronts du genre de celui que toute la Colonie a reçu d'un malheureux pamphlétaire! Faites donc punir par les fois l'ingratitude de cet homme, à qui l'on accorde "le vivre, le couvert," et l'hospitalité. Il lui faut une leçon; accordez-lui donc ce que son bon génie réclame de vous pour sauver Bon Aine.

71

Extract from the "Cernéen" of October 21, 1871.

L'ON s'était attendu à voir le Ministère Public exercer une poursuite contro le libelle Plévitz. Le Ministère Public est resté silencieux. Aussi qu'est-il arrivé? Que ce silence a été considéré comme un déni de justice; et qu'une réparation a été cherché par un Créole au nom de tous les Créoles. Le sentiment public a été, cette fois encore, plus fort que la loi, nous n'en voulons pour preuve que la sympathie universelle qui entoure M. J. Lavoquer; et si celui-ci avait du passer devant la Cour d'Assises, il n'est pas un jury qui ne l'eût absous à l'unanimité.

Nous le disons en toute sincérité, le Ministère Public est hautement responsable de tout ce qu'il y a d'anormal dans cette situation, et nous ne craignons pas de l'accuser de n'avoir pas rempli un grand devoir-de n'avoir pas poursuivi le Sieur Plévitz comme diffamateur au premier chef enver la société, dont lui, Ministère Public, est le porte- paroles devant la justice.

Extract from the "Commercial Gazette."

Port Louis, October 20, 1871. WE announced in our last issue that the case of the police against Mr. Lavoquer would come on for hearing before Mr. Magistrate Rouillard, to-morrow (Friday); but it appears that, by arrangement, the affair is postponed to some day next week, probably Wednesday. We would most gladly have informed the public that the charge had been withdrawn altogether, but it is not our good fortune to be able to do so. experience of the temper of our community permits us to speak with authority, and we say it with the fullest conviction, that had this much the wiser course been adopted, the present excitement would have calmed down as suddenly as it arose, and there would have been no fear of the public peace being again disturbed.

Our

Who is responsible for reviving the just irritation of the population against De Plévitz ? Certainly not the police, for its chief would, we are sure, never have taken upon himself to run counter to unanimous public opinion, and thrust himself forward as the prosecutor of a man who, whether justified or not in what he did, has been morally acquitted by the whole community. We do not believe, either, that the Ministère Public has willingly interfered in the matter. We can only suppose, then, that what has been done, what is now doing, and what is to be done, must lie at the door of his Excellency the Governor.

We need not disclaim any intention to augment the anger of the community; we need not reiterate our earnest hope that no further public demonstration against De Plévitz will take place. We on confidently turn to our invariable attitude when- ever the peace and order of society has been menaced, for proof that our counsels have ever been those of moderation in all things and of obedience to the laws. But we feel bound respectfully to tell his Excellency the Governor, that, by his undisguised bias, he is driving the people over whom he governs to doubt his justice and his declared sympathy with them. We anticipate no violent manifestations of ill-will towards him, but he must expect that his future career as Governor of Mauritius will be beset with difficulties, that the inofficial members of Council will suspect his intentions, as they will most surely repudiate any participation in the prosecution of Mr. Lavoquer. Why should his Excellency run this risk? Why should he not calmly consider the extent of his responsibility, and the difference which exists between the necessities of his important office and an uncalled-for straining of his authority? We cannot say it too emphatically, the whole community is incensed at the steps he has taken, and it is It is not yet too late to accept. possible Her Majesty's Ministers will disavow them. advice from those whose knowledge of Mauritius and its people undoubtedly exceeds that which bis Excellency can possess. It is not too late to appeal to his Excellency, in the name of the public, to withdraw the charge against Mr. Lavoquer.

Extract from the "Cernéen" of October 26, 1871.

LA seule chose qui puisse sauver le pays des périls dont il est menacé, c'est le renvoi, par mesure administrative, du Sieur do Plevitz de la Colonie. Le Gouverne- ment indiquerait ainsi la portée de ses notes: il prouverait que si, d'un côté, il a voulu se montrer d'une sévérité extrême à l'endroit d'un désordre commis, de l'autre il entend