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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

SEPELIC.O. 882

4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

M. P. Ambrose demande que l'on ajoute sur la liste le nom de l'honorable Maire. (Assentiment général.)

La liste proposée par le Maire est adoptée sans observations. Après des remerciements au Président, la séance est levée.

GENTLEMEN,

THE HONOURABLE RAOUL at the REFORM COMMITTER.

ALLOW me, before every thing else, to thank you for the readiness with which you have responded to the appeal which we took the liberty of addressing to you; this readiness, and the presence of so large a number of influential and enlightened members of our community augur well for the success of the work we are going to undertake together.

Gentlemen, I owe an explanation before proceeding any further. Only a few days ago, in another assembly, I thought it my duty respectfully but frankly to point out to Her Majesty's representative in this Colony some of the defects in our system of government. I thought the time for speaking out had come, and I spoke. I knew at the time that I was but giving expression to the thoughts of a large number in our midat; but what I did not know was that the few plain and short words I uttered would have been echoed throughout the Colony, as they have been. The spontaneous awakening of public spirit, the proofs of sympathy and approval which have reached me from every quarter, even from persons from whom I the least expected them, convince me now that I have been the true interpreter of the feelings of the bulk of my fellow citizens.

This remarkable circumstance vividly struck several of my friends, as well as myself; and we thought a direction should be given to a movement so plainly accentuated, and a body to aspirations and opinions which, if isolated, would be devoid of strength, but which if united, settled, and defined in a tangible shape, would, on the contrary, have irresistible strength. We, therefore, in the space of a few hours, improvised a meeting for the purpose of exchanging views, and of resolving upon the course to be followed. We unanimously arrived at the conclusion that it is indis- pensable to reform our system of government and particularly the constitution of the Council, and we decided to invite a certain number of the colonists, representing as far as possible the different interests of the community, for the purpose of constituting themselves into an initiative committee. Our friend, the Worshipful Mayor of Port Louis, offered the hospitality of the Town Hall, and undertook to obtain from the proper authority permission for us to meet, which permission was at once and very graciously granted by His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor with a liberalism to which I am happy to have an opportunity of bearing testimony, and upon which I reckon.

Gentlemen, this is how and why we are here to-day. It is probable, it is even certain that, in issuing our invitations, we have made numerous and regrettable omissions, because we thought no time should be lost and that, as the old adage says, the iron should be beaten whilst it is hot. But those omissions it will be for you to supply presently, when you have constituted yourself into a committee.

Gentlemen, do not think it necessary to declare that we are not revolutionists. The word would make people smile if applied to the good, peaceful, and laborious people of Mauritius. No, we are not revolutionists, nor demagogues, nor factionists! Neither are we dreamers in love with some abstract theory, with some hollow doctrine, which it would be dangerous, if not impossible, to realise. We are men of order, deeply attached to our country, desirous of seeing all its material and moral resources developed, and we think that in order to give to those resources their full development, it is indispensable that we should be given a larger and more direct share in the manage- ment of our affairs, and that a system which, fifty years ago, may have had its raison d'être, but which clearly is no longer in harmony with our social and intellectual,

We feel that condition, should be modified in a liberal sense and in a just measure. we are not longer children to whom access to political and public life should be forbidden; we are conscious of our manhood, and we wish to shake off the swathing clothes in which we have been too long wrapped. (Loud and prolonged applause.)

What are the reforms to be suggested? It is probable that some of you, gentlemen, will presently give expression to your ideas and develop a few general considerations on this subject. I think, however, that we are not called upon to discuss or solve that question to-day. If you will allow me, I will briefly state what, to my mind, is the

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course to be followed. I think the first step should be to constitute ourselves into an initiative committee. I will presently read to you and submit for your approval a declaration which I have prepared for that purpose, and which, I am sure, will meet with your unanimous adhesion. When that has been done, I will ask you to appoint a chairman, two vice-chairmen, two secretaries, and a reporter. Then the chairman will submit to you two resolutions, the second of which will have for its object the creation of a sub-committee to study the question of the reforms to be asked for in our system of Government and in the constitution of the Legislative Council. When that com- mittee has finished its labours, it will submit its report to you, who are the initiative committee; you will, no doubt give to that report the greatest publicity, in order that every one may take cognisance of it and discuss it, and you will then take such steps as you may think necessary to attain the object you have in view. (Loud applause.)

After having been unanimously voted into the chair, the Hon. Raoul addressed the meeting as follows:

GENTLEMEN,

I WOULD be wanting in frankness, if I did not tell you that I accept with the greatest readiness the honour you have conferred upon me. I accept the honour, and accept also the responsibility. I do not think it is necessary for me to assure you that I will devote myself heartily to the work we are about to undertake, and for the success of which we are going to labour together. I am firmly convinced that we will succeed, if we are united, if we are wise and moderata in our requests, if we are inclined to make mutual concessions, and especially, gentlemen, if we are persevering. Perseverance is a great political virtue, it is the crowning quality of the powerful nation to which we belong; the quality to which it owes, in a great measure, its prosperity and its greatness. But, let me tell you, gentlemen, we have other qualities, we are ardent and generous, but we are not persevering; at least, that is the quality we have hitherto been most deficient in. I remember, some years ago, I was talking to a former Colonial Secretary of a manifestation of public opinion, somewhat similar to the present one, which had been caused by some government measure, "Bah!" he said, "the public mind is excited just now, but it is only an ebullition, which will only last "till the arrival of the next mail; you are ardent and enthusiastical, but your anger and your enthusiasm are like a haystack on fire, it burns well, but it burns quickly." Let us hope, gentlemen, we will avail ourselves of the opportunity which now offers itself, to give the lie to this appreciation of the Creole character, and that we will be able to show that we have profited by the example of England. Let us hope also, gentlemen, that this day, the 7th July 1882 will be one of note in the history of Mauritius and that it will be the first of a new era. (Loud repeated applause.)

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COMITÉ D'Initiative.

The following is a list of the persons who were present at the meeting of the above Committee at the Town Hall on Friday, or who have accepted to form part of the Committee: The Hon. H. Adam, Messrs. P. Ambrose, G. Arlanda, Alb. Antelme, Dr. Allas, G. Aubin., MM. Eug. Bazire, C. Baschet, E. Baissac, R. M. Brown, A. Brémon, A. Brunox, V. Boullé, Léonce Boullé, Alph. Boulé fils, Dr. A. Bonnefin, A. Boulanger, G. de Coriolis, Ev. de Chazal, A. R. Chamney, A. de Comarmond, B. H. Colin, R. Crosnier, H. Capeyron, Joseph Coutanceau, Oscar Chevreau Cogne, V. Delafaye, Constant d'Arifat, Ch. D'Arifat, Aug. Dabbadie, J. Em. Daruty, Alb. Daruty, M. Desvaux, A. Docinth, Em. Ducray, V. Ducray, Eug. Duponsel, Ed. Duvivier, Dr. Drouin, V. Dupin, E. Dupuy, C. Durand Deslongrais, E. de Drusina, MM. Ed. Elias, Dr. Edwards, S. Eynaud, U. Engelbrecht, F. de Froberville, J. A. Ferguson, Jocelyn Fayd'herbe, Ern. Fayd'herbe, L. François, George Guibert, Edg. Gallet, P B. Guim beau, Gustave Guimbeau, Julius Guibert, H. Galés, Alph. Geffroy, A. de Gersigny, F. Galdemar, Ed. Hart, Ed. Hardy, F. Halais, W. Hazlitt, Harper, W. Hewetson, E. Hitié, G. Houět, E. Henri, Eug. Hourquebie, D. Jardin, T. L. Jenkins, Arth. Jollivet, A. Joly, Léon Jauffray. G. V. Kivern, Alf. Koenig, R. Koenig, E. Koenig, Eug. Leclésio père, H. Leclézio, C. Leal, E. Laurent, A. Lavoquer, G. R. Lagane, Alb. Lucas, Voloy Lemerle, H. Lemière, L. Letord, Lemême, P. Lastelle, E. Leblanc, A. L'hoste, V. Lar- marque, Loizeau, J. Mercier, Ed. Montoochio, Edg. Mayer, G. Martin, L. Mazery, T. Mallac, Alf. Montocchio, A. Maurel, M. Maingard, A. Mallao, Sir V. Naz, Messrs. W. Newton, Ch. Newton, Hon. H. Pitot, Messrs. Léon Pitot, Th. Pitot, S. Pelte, Ed. Pelte, H. Portal, G. Pierrot, C. J. Planel, A. Poupinel, Dr. Poupinel, Hon. L. Raoul.

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