X. The Black Peril

“ Here, on the Gold Coast, the people have shown that they do not mean to go under, but in a different way — ” this, as the precocious youth produced a sheet of paper with the words neatly written down. “ I meant not to forfeit the rest of the story you see, dad, and now for your promise please,” drawing a low seat close to the paternal chair.

“I see you have forgotten the illustration but not the text, and as other illustrations are easy to find,” said Kwamankra, “ I shall redeem my promise. They are scattered over the pages of history. In your historical lessons you have undoubtedly heard of what is called the ‘ Eastern Question ? ’ ”

“Yes, I have, though I forget what it was exactly, and, besides, I learn these things better when you tell them to me your way, dad,” said the lad excitedly.

“ Now, if you will compose yourself, and remember that the story is in illustration of the discussion with which we started, namely, the socalled ‘ yellow peril,5 you will listen to good purpose, my boy.55

The youth bowed assent, and Kwamankra began : “ It was all the doing of the Russians at the start. Years ago they were confined in one corner of Asia Minor, having no access to the North Sea, the Baltic, or the Black Sea. By-andby the Emperor, Peter the Great, conceived the idea of Russian expansion toward the Crimea and northward to the Baltic. After him Catherine II. of Russia sought to carry into effect the dream of Peter the Great, and thenceforth it became the national policy of the Russian Bear.55

“ What do you mean by the Russian Bear? 55

‘ ‘ It means the Russian in the sense in which we talk of John Bull.55

“ Oh ! go on dad.55

“ Well, in the pursuit of this policy by the Russian Bear, she came in collision with the Turk in the Crimea about the time of the Emperor Nicolas II. in the fifties of the last century; and a casus belli (of course you have been brushing up your Latin) was found in the fact, and I wish you to note this particularly, that the Turks ill-treated the Christians of the Greek Church within the Sultan’s dominions. You perceive the application of the story of the wolf and the lamb here. don’t you? ” The youth gave a knowing bow. “ Well,” pursued Kwamankra, “it is a long story; but, in the act of self-preservation by the Turks, although history recordeth it not in so many words, the circumstance constituted in the minds of the Russians of the time a ‘ Muslim peril,’ do you understand? ”

“ Yes, dad,” answered the youth eagerly. ‘ ‘ But, surely, the English people have never acted thus toward a weaker race. I can well understand the sneaking bear thus acting, but not straightforward John Bull.”

“ Well, let us see, I am not so sure about that. What of the Opium War with China when England coerced China because she insisted upon restricting the sale of opium within the Chinese Empire, and the ‘ Lorcha Arrow ’ incident not so many generations ago, where England picked a quarrel with China, because Governor Yen exercised the right of boarding a Chinese vessel which wrongly flew an English flag to cover her piratical practices in Chinese waters? Other instances might be given, but I can assure you, my dear boy, no Christian European nation is free from the error of self-assertiveness — none free from the taunt of crying ‘ yellow peril,’ or ‘ black peril,’ the moment they are confronted with resistance in one form or another. They seem to carry in the one hand a patent from the Almighty and absolution in the other to snatch away the patrimony of others :

' Why should they live — Fate has writ large its doom for them.

‘ Land for the whites ! Let the black fellows die ! ’ the European nations seem to shout, and reck not offence to God or man in the cry.”

“ But how does all this apply to our country ? ” asked Ekra Kwow.

“ How does it ? — good ! I like to think you are following so closely what the learned books call the argument, that is, the immediate subject under discussion. Well, I will tell you in one word. iThe Political Officer represents the self-assertiveness of the English in extending power and authority at every nook and corner wherever the thin end of the wedge can be introduced. The sagacious black man offers a point of resistance when he pleads his peculiar customs and institutions, and presto ! the cry of the ‘ educated native peril ’ is raised, as if forsooth, the ‘ native ’ ceases to be a ‘ native 5 the moment he is educated. that won’t do at present. The wolf and the lamb story again, you see.”

“ But why don’t you expose these things, dad? You can write, you can talk, why don’t you let the whole world know of them,” said the lad with some degree of heat. “ Not so fast, my boy,” said Kwamankra, laying his hand on the child’s head, and speaking slowly and deliberately, as was his wont when about to give vent to some utterance from the very recesses of his soul. “ I wish you to understand, my dear child, that it is neither the anger of the powerful, nor the hope of favour from the great that has hitherto sealed my lips. I have taught you from your infancy to regard truth as the highest of all virtues, as the apex of character; and he who falls in declaring the truth in his day and generation, is but a humble follower of a Socrates, or if you prefer it, of the Nazarene. I try to follow his example, prepared to suffer if needs be in the cause of country, race, and humanity,” and drawing the child nearer, he added in suppressed tones — { ‘ only the hour is not yet come. Pray for thy father, that when it does come, he may be found strong and faithful.”