¹ Cape Mercury, Kingwilliamstown, 9 07 1898.Google Scholar

² Constitution Ordinance 1853, section 10.

³ Rhodes Papers, C 2B: The Capes 1896–1902, no. 233, Lenkwane, J. D. Patrick to Rhodes, C. J., 20 06 1900. On behalf of the Progressive Native Committee of Kimberley, Lenkwane wrote: ‘It is the entire desire of the Native here that W. W. Fynne, Esq., should represent us in the House of Assembly for the Victoria East constituency…. As preliminary steps in the matter we have already arranged with our brothers in the constituency and also with Mr Pool, the Chairman of the League, to forward our humble request to Hon. Sir G. Sprigg….’Google Scholar

⁴ Imvo, 27 07 1898: ‘Here are a number of young bloods—drawn anyhow from various quarters, and scarcely representing anybody but themselves, seeing they were scarcely elected by any meeting—met in serio-comic conclave to deal with the most intricate and weighty political situation which seems to elude the elect…’Google Scholar

⁵ Umtata Herald, 30 12 1903, quoting Izwi (the 1903 file of Izwi no longer exists). Izwi, 16 04 1907.Google Scholar

⁶ Cape of Good Hope, G. 4, 1883; Report and Proceedings of the Commission on Native Laws and Customs; Schapera, I. ed. The Bantu-speaking Tribes of South Africa; Schapera, I., Government and Politics in Tribal Society.Google Scholar

⁷ Cape of Good Hope, G. 4, 1883, Ibid. Appendix D. pp. 267, 280, 285, 297, 300, 312, 318. Referring to the factors operating against the acceptance of individual title, the Hon. Charles Brownlee stated: ‘Headmen of locations, who have a voice in distribution of arable land, lose the influence which this patronage gives them immediately individual title is issued. They have, therefore, in most cases been strong opponents to the measure.’ Appendix C, p. 67.

⁸ Cape of Good Hope, G. 4, 1883, Appendix D, p. 232, para 39.

⁹ Cape Colony, Office of the Attorney General, no. 156, February 27 1865.

¹⁰ Cape Mercury, 17 02 1879.Google Scholar

¹¹ Cape of Good Hope, G. 4, 1883, pp. 341, 345, 474.

¹² Queenstown Free Press, 9 August 1898; headman Klaas Makasi at Drivers, Drift. The Journal, 25 07 1898; headmen Danga and Nzinga at Grahamstown. Cape Times, 30 01 1904;Google Scholar headman Komani, Selbeko, Wodehouse. Cape Times, 9 02 1904;Google Scholar headman Adam, Toise at Seplem, Tembuland. Cape Mercury, 23 03 1908; headman Umhalala, Brownlee Station.Google Scholar

¹³ Merriman Papers, 1898: no. 113, John X. Merriman (JXM) to Agnes Merriman (AM), 19 August 1898; no. 119, JXM to AM, 23 August 1898.

¹⁴ Queenstown Free Press, 22 12 1893.Google Scholar

¹⁵ Rhodes Papers C. 2B, 1896–1902: no. 263, Louise Abrahamson to Rhodes, C. J., 19 05, 1901.Google Scholar

¹⁶ Merriman Papers, 1903: no. 199, Silberbauer, to JXM, 19 10 1903;Google Scholar no. 202, John, Alfred Shishuba to JXM, 19 10 1903;Google Scholar no. 308, John, Alfred Shisbuba to JXM, 30 12 1903.Google Scholar

¹⁷ Imvo, 17 12 1907.Google Scholar

¹⁸ Imvo, 5 11 1907.Google Scholar

¹⁹ Queenstown Free Press, 5 01 1894; Cape Mercury, 6 08 1898;Google ScholarImvo,24 12 1907.Google Scholar

²⁰ Cape Times, 08 1893.Google Scholar

²¹ G. 46–1906, Cape of Good Hope, Blue Book on Native Affairs, 1905: Frank Brownlee Resident Magistrate, Mount Fletcher, 10 01 1906, p. 51.Google Scholar

²² Ibid: Robert, J. Crozier, Civil Commissioner, Wodehouse, 22 01 1906, p. 26.Google Scholar

²³ Ibid: Tainton, L. G. H., Inspector, Keiskama Hoek, 3 01 1906, p. 15.Google Scholar

²⁴ G. 12/1904, Cape of Good Hope, Blue Book on Native Affairs, 1904: Turner, H. Gordon, Inspector, Division of Herschel, 9 07 1904, p. 23.Google Scholar

²⁵ South African Native Affairs Commission (SANAC), 1905, vol. II, para. 8733. Evidence of Richard Rose Innes.

²⁶ South African News, 6 01 1904. On the chairman calling for a vote on the original motion, a large number stood in support. It was pointed out that a considerable percentage of these were non-voters, and Mr Baxter consented to act as a scrutineer. On all who were not voters being called upon to retire, some altercation took place between the respective parties. Merriman complained that at one meeting ‘there were only about to voters and a whole lot of other natives’ (Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 180: JXM to AM, 27 September 1903).Google Scholar

²⁷ Imvo, 26 05 1885.Google Scholar

²⁸ Imvo, 15 11 1893.Google Scholar

²⁹ Imvo, 10 12 1907.Google Scholar

³⁰ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 156: Rev.Mzimba, P. J. to Rev. Dewdney, W. Drew, 1 09 1903.Google Scholar

³¹ Imvo, 24 12 1907.Google Scholar

³² Merriman Papers, 1903, 110. 159: J. P. Smith to JXM, ‘We must endeavour to get one of the men recommended by Mr Pelem as an agent in Ladyfrere.’

³³ SANAC, vol. II, para. 8732.

³⁴ Imvo, 26 05 1885.Google Scholar

³⁵ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 272: Harry, Neville to JXM, 31 12 1903.Google Scholar

³⁶ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 308: John, Alfred Shishuba to JXM, 19 12 1903.Google Scholar

³⁷ Imvo, 11 10 1893.Google Scholar

³⁸ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 214: Pelem, J. M. to JXM, 33 10 1903.Google Scholar

³⁹ Ibid. no. 284: Matyolo, C. P. to JXM, 9 12 1903.Google Scholar

⁴⁰ Merriman Papers, 1898, no. 119: JXM to AM, 23 August 1898. Compare this to an earlier letter that Merriman wrote to his wife: ‘The other Bond candidate, Venter, came to me this morning and offered to withdraw if I would give him money to work for him! Of course I refused, and then afterwards he withdrew and is, I hear, going to work for Halse’ (Merriman Papers, no. 38: JXM to AM, 7 July 1898).

⁴¹ Merriman Papers, 1898, no. 97; JXM to AM, 33 August 1898.

⁴² Imvo, 11 10 1883.Google Scholar

⁴³ SANAC, vol. 11, para. 8732.

⁴⁴ Merriman Papers, 1898, no. 119: JXM to AM, 23 August 1898.

⁴⁵ Merriman Papers, 1904, no. 50: JXM to AM, 2 February 1904.

⁴⁶ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 159a: William, Siyo to Smit, J. P., 3 09 1903.Google Scholar

⁴⁷ Ibid. no. 202: John, A. Shishuba to JXM, 19 10 1903.Google Scholar

⁴⁸ Ibid. no. 298: Zuba, H. to JXM, 14 12 1903.Google Scholar

⁴⁹ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 156: Rev., P. J. Mzimba to Rev., Dewdney Drew, 1 09 1903.Google Scholar

⁵⁰ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 285: Jolobe, J. to JXM, 9 12 1903.Google Scholar

⁵¹ Ibid. no. 214: Pelem, J. M. to JXM, 31 10 1903;Google Scholar and no. 264: Pelem, J. M. to JXM, n.d. 1903. It seems that constituents were best served by their members or prospective members in the last session before the dissolution of Parliament. Richard Rose Innes, thinking that his brother James would not be re-elected in his Cape Division seat because he would neither join the S.A.P. nor align himself with Rhodes, and would therefore need to seek election in Kingwilliamstown, wrote to him: ‘It is a pity with the General Election in view you were not a little more diplomatic and did not make a show of advocacy of frontier or border interests. Had you done this and put yourself out a little in this direction, you would have sailed in here…. ’The extent to which local issues took precedence over national affairs can be gauged from Richard Rose Innes's response to his brother's voting against a second dredger for East London. The prosperity of that port directly affected Kingwilliamstown, and he urged his brother to write to Jabavu: ‘You must explain your Dredger vote fully, and if possible explain it away….’ And, at Victoria East, in the seat that he had won with African support in 1884, this too was likely to be affected. ‘It is bound to stand in your way at Alice too…’ (Rose Innes Papers, 1898, no. 174: Richard Rose Innes to James Rose Innes, n.d.).Google Scholar

⁵² Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 159a: William, Siyo to JXM, 3 09 1903.Google Scholar

⁵³ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 202: John, A. Shishuba to JXM, 19 10 1903.Google Scholar Shishuba refers to the ‘lies and misrepresentation’ spread by the Progressives. Another correspondent of Merriman's, W. G. Potgieter, declared in a letter: ‘Man, you can't think what a lot of lies they are spreading about now.’ Merriman Papers, 193, no. 263, Potgieter, W. G. to JXM, 30 11 1903.Google Scholar In Uitenhage, the Progressive Party found it necessary to deny the rumour that one of their candidates was not a Progressive (Cape Daily Telegraph, 9 02 1904).Google Scholar

⁵⁴ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 292: Matyolo, C. P. to JXM, 12 12 1903.Google Scholar

⁵⁵ Merriman Papers, 1904, no. 47: JXM to AM, 30 January 1904.

⁵⁶ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 197: Jabavu, J. Tengo to JXM, 17 10 1903.Google Scholar Jabavu had a similar reproach for two South African Party candidates ten days later, after the latter had held a meeting in Grahamstown which had been all but broken up. ‘If’, he wrote, ‘instead of attempting to convert the pledged opponents by public meeting they had called a meeting of their supporters and through it spoken to the hostile meeting, they might have avoided the profitless stirring up of rowdyism and race hatred which are ever latent in the jingo, a good might have been done’ (Imvo, 27 10 1903).Google Scholar

⁵⁷ At one meeting, the Queenstown Free Press (9 08 1898) reported the 'appearance on the scene of the scholars from a neighbouring native girls’ school, who marched up in rank carrying a big Union Jack, singing “The Red, White and Blue”, the National Anthem, and other patriotic songs’.Google Scholar

⁵⁸ In 1898, at a meeting in Queenstown, Shishuba accounted for every vote, on matters affecting Africans, given over the previous five years by Dr Berry, a local member who was seeking re-election (Queenstown Free Press, 16 08 1898).Google Scholar

⁵⁹ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 308: John, A. Shishuba to JXM, 12 12 1903.Google Scholar

⁶⁰ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 179: JXM to AM, 26 September 1903.

⁶¹ Javabu, a hostile witness has recorded, ‘fed his masters’ upon ‘flapdoodle, fabricating the mess out of imaginary votes of confidence for his masters’ delectation and leaving them to discover the real ingredients of the dish, at the bottom of the poll, when the result has been declared’ (Solomon, Tshekisho Plaatje, Native Life in South Africa Before and Since the European War and Boer Rebellion (London, 1916), p. 166).Google Scholar

⁶² Merriman Papers, no. 308: John, A. Shishuba to JXM, 12 12 1903.Google Scholar

⁶³ Merriman Papers, 1898, no. 97: JXM to AM, 13 August 1898.

⁶⁴ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 175: JXM to AM, 29 September 1903.

⁶⁵ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 190: JXM to AM, 7 October 1903.

⁶⁶ Merriman Papers, 1904, no. 47: JXM to AM, 30 January 1904.

⁶⁷ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 177: JXM to AM, 26 September 1903.

⁶⁸ Merriman Papers, 1903, no 178: JXM to AM, 26 September 1903.

⁶⁹ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 100: JXM to AM, 27 September 1903.

⁷⁰ Merriman Papers, 1903, no. 185: JXM to AM, 3 October 1903.

⁷¹ Sampson, V., Attorney-General, 1904–1908.Google Scholar

⁷² DrSmartt, T. W., Colonial Secretary, 05–10 1898; Commissioner of Crown Lands and Public Works, 06 1900–05 1902, 02 1904–02 1908.Google Scholar

⁷³ Graham, T. L., Attorney General, 05–10 1898, 02 1902–02, 1906.Google Scholar

⁷⁴ Sprigg, G. Gordon, Prime Minister, 02 1878–05 1881, 11 1886–07 1890, 01 1896–10 1898, 06 1900–02 1902.Google Scholar

⁷⁵ Imvo, 20 September, 11 Oct. 1893. Cape Mercury, 18 August 1898. Imvo, 3 11 1903.Google ScholarEast London Dispatch, 2 02 1904. Meetings always ended with the singing of the National Anthem. T. L. Graham became so annoyed by a proposal to move a vote of no confidence that he began walking out of the hall. At this the meeting began singing the anthem. ‘Whereupon’, Imvo reported, ‘the Attorney General was compelled to return to the platform and join the patriotic strains.’Google Scholar

⁷⁶ Umtata Herald, 23 Dec. 1903, reported C. C. Silberbauer and Molteno addressing a meeting at Askeaton which lasted eight hours. The South African News, 6 Jan. 1904, reported their holding a meeting at Cala which lasted six hours, whilst Merriman held a meeting at Macabeni which lasted four and a half hours (Merriman Papers, 1904, no. 51: JXM to AM, 3 February 1904).

⁷⁷ James, Rose Innes, Autobiography (1949), 52.Google Scholar

⁷⁸ Rodney, Davenport, ‘The Afrikaner Bond’, unpublished Ph.D. thesis, 389,Google Scholar quoting Hofmeyr Papers, vol. VII (Queenstown folder), Hofmeyr to Plessis, M. J. du, 4 07, 1898.Google Scholar

⁷⁹ Innes Papers, no. 184: Jones, C. T. to James Rose Innes, 20 07, 1898; no. 194:CTJ to JRI, 27 07 1898; no 195: CTJ to JRI, 28 07 1898.Google Scholar

⁸⁰ Imvo, 10 03 1898;Google ScholarCape Argus, 27 07 1898, 7 08 1898;Google ScholarSomerset Budget,4 01 1904;Google ScholarIzwi, 1907; Imvo, 14 01 1908.Google Scholar

⁸¹ East London Daily Dispatch, 6 02 1904. But African voters were not the only ones who might need instruction in how to use a ballot, as this description, from the Cape Argus, 27 07 1898, of a meeting of German-speaking voters at Frankfort, Kingwilliamstown, clearly shows: ‘Before the meeting broke up, an interesting occurrence took place. Mr Birkenstein, chalk in hand, advanced to the big blackboard in the corner of the school room and drew a picture of the polling paper with the names of the candidates. One by one the voters present were instructed how to place the Xs against the names of Schermbrucher and Warren. Frankfort now thoroughly understand the mysteries of the ballot box.’Google Scholar