We do not know that we very cordially believe in
Sir Bartle Frere, just appointed to the government of the Cape. He has always pleased his official superiors, but he did not govern Bom- bay well, being completely taken in by the prosperity mania, and be is getting into years. He has, however, the special idea of Anglo-Indian officials—that dark races are best governed by immovable fairness, and his reply to the Aborigines' Protec- tion Society on Tuesday was a model of tact and discre- tion. The Aborigines, as usual, were rather hard upon the Europeans, but Sir Bartle, who knew the truth quite well, knew also that it would never do to begin his labours by irritating all the agents he has to work with. So he remarked that while persons inclined to do justice to the natives "were not just now in the ascendant" in the Dutch possessions, still a majority of Mitch settlers sympathised with the right aide; while as to the 'Cape officials, "he trusted he should find it an easy task at the Cape to assist statesmen on the spot who had addressed them- selves to this not easy question in reference to a most important point." The- crux of the Cape question lies there, and we are glad to believe that Sir Bartle Frere thoroughly perceives it. Southern Africa can be governed on Indian principles, and cannot be governed on Australian.
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