D1.8.29: [Untitled]

D1.8.29: [Untitled]

Newspaper Clippings

Bleek states that despite the policy standstill after the constitutionally grey Kaffrarian Annexation Bills, the legislature should still handle unrelated matters. Legislators' plan of so-called 'Separation'-of the colony into two provinces-should follow after meeting the conditions for federalism. He feels that the colony is barely large enough (population-wise?) to justify having a local parliament. Political parties should possess distinct ideologies or 'principles', unlike the regional cliques of East and West. Lacking ideational pluralism impoverishes the system, and representatives should push beyond party politics. Territorial divisions create hostility and a detrimental insular preoccupation with each locality's unique experience and well-being. Bleek strongly disapproves of Solomon's uncharacteristic motion on Fingoe passes, which he calls harassment, and recounts some historical injustices of such despotic class legislation. He subsequently comments on the 'extreme harshness [of passport system legislation] towards Black neighbours' proposed by rogue frontier farmers. This cruelty is more prevalent there than in the Western districts. The Graham's Town Parliament's treatment of natives is reminiscent of Prussian (and Russian?) despotism.

Printed newsprint glued on paper

11 May 1865

One cut-out column of printed newsprint mounted on foolscap folio (warped).

Farmers (deterring thieves and marauders), passport system (for natives), Fingoes (Mfengu)

Pressed clippings of Victorian current affairs opinion pieces by Wilhelm Bleek.

Van de Sandt de Villiers & Co.