Civilisation Versus
p. 42 · Read in the full issue
Savagery.
(To the Editor.) Sir, —With reference to your article on the Larkin case (New Guinea) and your criticism of Judge Wanliss’s verdict, I am reminded of this: He it is that is unswerving of purpose. No hot ardour of the mob, demanding unjust courses; nor the bullying of superior tyrants, can shake his steadfast soul! Not the southerly, that turbulent ruler of the restless Adriatic, nor even thunderbolts hurled from the mighty hand of Jupiter, can afright him! Though the sky shatter and fall around him, the frag ments shall strike him unafraid! —Horace III.,
No. Iii.
You have honoured me by printing some thousands of words from my pen, knowing that I commenced exploratory work in New Guinea 48 years ago, since when I have had experience in 60/80 of the lesser-known islands of the Pacific. I am quoted as an authority upon Australian native matters in Webster’s; and I had charge of fifteen to fifty native-scouts in Africa during the Boer War. I may claim, therefore, to know some thing of the treatment of natives of Pacific, and other lands.
Firstly, let me say that I know no thing of this particular case except from what has been stated in Parlia ment and the Courts. Secondly, allow me to again express my deep admira tion for the general policy of His Ex cellency Sir Hubert Murray: and the example of such splendid men as Dr.
Newton, and the late Mr. Abel.
It is this Christian policy, followed out regardless of political action, or the sneer of the selfish trader and un scrupulous planter, that has changed New Guinea (I hate the modern, stupid, and un-historic name of “Papua”!) from what it was to what it is. The superficial observer may think that the Aboriginal regards all white-men as “Taubada” or “Turaga” (Fiji); but no one is so acute as the Island natives (descended from an Asian civilisation far older than ours!) to comprehend the difference between the disciplined mind of a gentleman and the savagery that lies, lightly shackled, beneath the whiskey-ruled mentality of the ill-bred.
All of us who have known Island life, in the rough of early days, will endorse my statement that ninety-nine out of 100 cases of trouble with natives arise because a brown savage has found himself opposed by a white savage, for whom he has no respect especially when the latter was a dribbling drunkard! Bishop Newton
can go safely where nine men out of ten of the modern, reach-me-down business white-men would be knocked on the head in twenty-four hours.
I deeply sympathise with Judge Wanliss, and all such brave men who are upholding the old Christian method against the get-rich-quick methods of the modern greedy, undis ciplined, and utterly pagan white-men, who are now endangering the steady advance of civilisation in Samoa and New Guinea.
I am, etc.,