The Queensland Slave Question

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 115, 26 March 1892, Page 2

The Queensland Slave Question

Our readers will doubtless remember i that when a proposal was made by j -! the Queensland Government to in- j ■ augnrate a system of slavery, we I made a most serious protest against the proposed crime agaiast humanity. : We iind that even the white people ; whom this new plan of acquiring "cheap I labor " was nominally intended to benefit, had among them persons who had some sense of decency left, and Sir Samuel Griffiths' suggestion was very unfavorably receiyed in some parts of the colony. We are told by an exchange that on a recent visit to his up-country property, when the train left Barcaldine about 300 men gathered and made a hostle demongr.nitiou. When the party arrived at Longveach a good many persona assembled, but no demonstration was made. After the luncheon the Premier and a number of others drove to a race meeting which was held two miles from town. The attendance uumbered 300 to 400, a large proportion belonging to the criminal class. When the Premier's coach arrived on the ground the mob rushed it, hooting and yelling like maniacs. Sir Samuel Griffith stood up in the coach and attempted to speak, but the hooting rendered it impossible for him to be heard. He asked the crowd whether it was proper thus to receive a visitor who came to see the racea, but the hostility increasing he desisted, saying it was no use addressing a lot of lunatics. He remained on the ground some time, the hooting being continued at intervals. If this alleged mote had cheered instead of hooting Sir Samuel we fancy the members of it would have been spared the accusation that they belonged to the "criminal classes." Even if they were, they deserve credit for their courage in showing so forcibly their detestation of the man who could for his own ends, advocate the introduction of slaves into a free country.