They have advanced rapidly in the scale of civilization, and have practically shaken themselves free of all tribal associations. They have as a body performed good and faithful service to the Crown during periods of war and uneasiness, and are characteristically law-abiding. Allusion is here made to the subject because the Native Affairs Commission considered it well to suggest a definition of the word 'native,' which has a different meaning in every Colony, The object was clear. If persons of off-colour were to be given in perpetuity the status of white people, a deplorable incitement would be given to open prostitution between the races in order to gain the status. For that reason the Commission held that a moment would come when the State should declare that the product of an aboriginal woman should henceforth take the status of its mother.
In closing this paper, which only purports to cover a small portion of the area open to discussion, it may be recapitulated that the great abiding question of all is the cultivation of good relations between the white and black races, in which sympathy is an essential factor. The great issue before the Europeans in South Africa, in so far as matters relating to the natives are concerned, is to aim at mutual understanding on a basis satisfactory to the white population, yet not inimical to the rights and interests of the aboriginals.
The task is a great one involving much give and take. No precedent is available, because no such conditions have prevailed in any other country. The federation of the Australian Commonwealth and the Canadian Dominion were, however, not accomplished without sacrifice and compromise, problems being overcome of equal weight, though dissimilar in feature. Meanwhile the fullest and most temperate-minded discussion is of the highest importance.
The whole course of discussion will be clogged by the tendency to be governed by feelings rather than reason. This tendency can only be moderated by patience and the determination to fend off the clamour
