CO882-(3-4) — Page 559

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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LTICO. 882

4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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that emancipation would take place in spite of, and in a manner hostile to the Creole clement. When the speaker sat down, he received several rounds of applause.

He His speech was a short one. M. P. Ambrose proposed the first resolution. contented himself with asserting that the present order of things was unsatisfactory. The progress of the Colony required other institutions more adapted to its present circumstances. The constitution framed 50 years ago, when the circumstances of the Colony were very different to its present ones, was not calculated to meet the require- Mr. Ambrose conoluded by exhorting ments of Mauritius as they actually were. all present to unite cordially in forwarding the object for which the Committee had been named.

Mr. G. Guibert seconded the resolution. His speech was a moderate and logical one. He devoted it to proving three points. First, that our existing Constitution was not worthy of our advanced state of progress and civilization; secondly, that there was no reasonable fear that the votes of the general mass of the population would be swamped by those of the Indians; thirdly, that there were no grounds to apprehend that the Indians would be oppressed or ill treated if the Constitution prayed for were granted. On the first point Mr. Guibert argued, that as elective institutions were the rule in all civilised countries, it was for those who objected to them here to show why we were unfit for them. He maintained that it was not a sound argument to say, because in French Colonies there was either universal suffrage or no elections at all, that such a rule applied here. Mauritius was a British Colony, and there were British Colonies with a limited franchise, yet no calamities happened to them. Mr. Guibert cited the Cape and Natal. On the second point the orator gave a number of figures from the two last censuses, which he maintained proved, that while no doubt Indians had made great progress, still it was not of such a rapid nature as to cause any alarm. He said, that under the proposed Constitution, Indians would have their share in voting, and to this they were clearly entitled. For if by their intelligence and hard work they attained to the position of an elector, there was no reason why they should not vote. (This sentiment was loudly applauded). Mr. Guibert pointed out, that even supposing there existed what might be called a Colonial aristocracy, it had no right to keep all the privileges of government to itself; that in Europe nearly all the aristocracies had perished except the English aristocracy, which had admitted other classes to a fair share in political power.

We must act in a similar manner in Mauritius, unless we wished to meet with the deserved fate of all those who attempted to keep entirely to themselves all political privileges and advantages. Lastly, Mr. Guibert argued, there was no reasonable ground for fearing that the 10 elected and the 10 nominee members would combine to oppress and misgovern the Indian population. The fear of this was just as chimerical as the fear that the Indians or the electors from the lower orders would combine to elect demagogues. His experience was that Indians once they gained a little property, when it was necessary to protect it, chose the best attornies and the best counsel that could be procured, and it was idle to suppose that they would elect troublesome and mischievous members to represent them in the Council. Mr. Guibert concluded by stating, that in points of detail there would necessarily be differences of opinion, such as the nature of the qualifications required to be an elector, whether persons should be excluded because they could not read and write, &c., but he exhorted his hearers not to insist on these points, but to leave them to be dealt with by the Committee; and he explained and defended the property qualification proposed by it. He said, if any visible sign existed by which an intelligent elector might be known, that sign ought to be adopted, but as this sign did not exist, the possession of a moderate amount of property or of a certain yearly income, was the best practical test of fitness to exercise the franchise. (Loud applause).

The chairman then called upon B. H. Colin to adress the meeting.

This gentleman began by saying that he had listened with great attention to the arguments set forth by Mr. Guibert, but they had not convinced him. He admitted, however, that Mr. Guibert's figures had shown him that fears he once entertained in regard to the influx of Indians into all trades and professions, and the consequent swamping by them of the Creole element, were to a great extent unfounded; but still this did not induce him to accept the proposed measures of reform as wise and beneficial, He agreed with the Committee that a reform was necessary, and he held this opinion as strongly as anyone present, but he did not agree with the promoters of this meeting as to the nature of the reforms that ought to be introduced. Mr. Colin strongly insisted on the fact that, since 1853, the people of Mauritius were entitled to elective institutions, in the form of district councils, which might have been had by

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simply petitioning for them, and yet these councils had never been asked for, and this plainly showed that elective institutions were not wanted. Mr. Colin then spoke of the rights Indians had to protection, and said he came forward as their defender. (Here there was some noise made, but the chairman promptly stopped it.) Mr. Colin then continued. He stated his personal opinions were on the side Mr. Guibert argued for, but in cases like this, personal sympathies ought not to be listened to, but our reason must guide us, and practical considerations taken into account. He then said he had to deal with a burning question, viz., that of prejudices of race and colour. (Here there were cries of enough stop.") Mr. Colin continued. I find, he said, the question is even more burning (brulante) than I thought it was, still I will endeavour to deal with it so as not to give offence. Some of us belong to the white population, but because we are favored by Providence, this is not a reason why-(Here a number of persons called out enough "sit down." This lasted for some time, and during a lull, Mr. Colin said that, as they would not listen to him, he would withdraw and continue the opposition he had already begun.)

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Mr. W. Newton then came forward and was received with repeated rounds of applause. He began to speak evidently under the influence of emotion. He commenced by saying that if he could not give expression to all he wished to say, it was because the meeting had given him such a reception as to cause him deep emotion. He was proud of this, for next to the approval of a man's own conscience he ought to value the esteem and applause of his fellow-citizens. Mr. Colin, he said, had argued that because the people of the Colony did not adopt district councils, therefore they were indifferent to elective institutions. This was not a sound argument. District councils would give the colonists no effective share in the government. He himself, as was well known, had taken an active part in an attempt to secure a municipality for Curepipe, hoping this would prepare the way for something more important. He had met with strong opposition, and the reason was not far to seek. A municipality would not, any more than district councils, give the people a share in, or influence over the government, and that is what they sought after. He did not quite understand the object of his friend, Mr. Colin. At first he thought that Mr. Colin, when speaking of having been convinced by Mr. Guibert's figures and stating that his fears about the influx of Indians were nearly dissipated, had become a convert and meant to join them. It turned out, however, that his young friend did not go very far on his road to Damascus, and on meeting & little disapprobation he had withdrawn in ill-humour (" Il a boudi"), and announced his intention of continuing his opposition. Mr. Newton then alluded to the absence of any speakers who were opposed to the objects of the meeting.

Mr. Jardin (of the Cornéen newspaper) here called out "What would you wish them "to do here after the reception you have given them?" This remark occasioned some noise, but it soon subsided. Mr. Newton continued. As long, he said, as argument only was used, the meeting listened patiently, but when Mr. Colin touched upon the question of race, the meeting felt that an attempt was being made to create division by alluding to a sad past and recalling events of unhappy memory, and thereupon protests, which came from the hearts of those present, were heard on all sides. He, Mr. Newton, maintained that there had been no attempt made to stop fair discussion. It had been alleged that those who took part in the present movement, wished to transfer political preponderance to the Indian population. This assertion was absurd. No one could transfer what he did not possess. Political preponderance in Mauritius belonged not to the Creoles but to Government, and to a very limited group of privileged persons, and was used sometimes against the Creoles. There were two schools of politicians; one, the old school, maintained that the small circle they belonged to should alone have political power; the other, the new school, considered that political power and the advantages attached to it should belong to all, without distinction of class or race, who were worthy to exercise it. He, and those who worked with him in this matter, belonged to the new school and were the enemies of exclusion. Mr. Newton then stated that Mr. Guibert had shown, in an irrefutable manner, how groundless the fears of the Indian preponderance were. Indians born and brought up here would become in effect creoles, and, if they were qualified to be electors, they ought to be electors. He then argued that the Colonists had shown themselves fitted to exercise a moderate share of political power, and there was no reason brought forward worth attending to against this moderate share being allotted to them. Public meetings had been held and had been properly conducted and the general behaviour of the Mauritius public proved they were fitted for representative institutions. It did happen that there was some noise at a recent meeting, but it occasionally happened at meetings that eloquent voices were drowned by clamour. Evidently he did not allude to his own voice, nor to what had occurred here. He had in his mind's eye something which happened in D 4

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Europe. Occurrences of this nature did not show that the community in which they took place were unfit for elective institutions. Even supposing there were some risks to be run in carrying out the reforms sought for, he considered it was better to run them than to remain in the present unprogressive state. The elective element would give life and vigour to the Legislative Council, and although difficulties would arise, they would certainly be conquered and the true progress of the Colony assured. (MỸ. Newton's speech was received with loud and prolonged applause.)

The chairman then put the first resolution to the meeting.

The chairman

At first nobody made any opposition, then someone said that two persons voted against it. But I did not see anyone actually come forward and do so. declared the resolution carried.

The Hon. H. Adam then moved the second resolution. He said very little, but argued that the first resolution being carried, the second followed as a matter of course, and that the committee must remain constituted and continue to act until the object for which it was chosen was obtained.

Mr. E.Leclezio seconded the resolution in a brief speech. It was put by the chair- man and carried unanimously.

Mr. Lastelle moved a vote of thanks to the chairman and office bearers, which was A number of persons signed the petition up. promptly carried, and the meeting broke

at once, but still a certain number left without doing so. As far as I could judge, however, a considerable majority were in favour of the petition, still it is quite possible that as many as a fifth or sixth of the assembly agreed with Mr. Colin.

J. H. ACKROYD.

Port Louis, Mauritius,

10th October 1882.