"Fritz to Basel"

Some slaves have come to the government to be declared free - the majority of these out of laziness, rather than from any desire to be self-sufficient. Another group have come to be declared free, and then Imam returned to their masters. The majority, however, have remained with their masters, either because they are well-handled, and are part of the family, or because they fear to be independent. No breadless proletariat will develop, because the ex-slaves can either farm land belonging to someone else for a small proportion of their yearly product, or can go and farm in the uninhabited tracts. Nor is a growth in robber-bands likely - public opinion is too strong against them and Government punishments too severe. Over future control of land Fritz suggests a plan along the lines of Zimmermann’s (after some remarks about the fact of the recent history of farming among the Christians of Christiansborg and La). About opinions of slaves and owners over the Emancipation, he writes that the owners think there should it have been compensation.

28.07.1875

28.07.1875

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8 pages