[“Correspondence”, The West Australian, Friday 07 October 1892, page 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3040831]
CORRESPONDENCE.
BISHOP GIBNEY AND THE NOR’-WEST SETTLERS.
TO THE EDITOR.
SIR,—At the meeting for the St. John’s, (Newfoundland) Relief Fund, I notice that Bishop Gibney made some very unkind, uncharitable, impulsive and inconsiderate remarks with regard to the Nor’-West settlers. Now, Sir, as a settler that has been at the Nor’-West since 1869, I cannot allow Bishop Gibney’s unkind and unsympathetic remarks go by without a little comment thereon. In the last disastrous drought we lost 40,000 sheep, and according to Bishop Gibney’s impulsive and misleading reckoning, we were the slayers of 400 blacks, as he terms them. I think if he used the word natives it would sound as showing a little more respect for them. During the time that I have been on the Nor’-West, I have gained a good knowledge of what has happened among the natives before and after I went there, and I call Heaven to witness when I say that I never lifted a deadly instrument to a native in my life. Neither have I killed one. I do not say that I have not chastised them, and who can manage natives without doing so? I would like to see Bishop Gibney come through the ordeal scathless for twelve months only. Now, Sir, I am speaking for myself, but I believe I can safely say that all or nearly all of the Nor’-West settlers could speak after the same manner if they were called on to do so. What wonder that such a damaging impression prevails in Downing street, and other parts, of the world, when at our very door a gentleman like Bishop Gibney classes the whole of the Nor’-West settlers in the same category and endeavoured to convey his opinion that the Nor’-West settlers are punished by the drought for their sins against the natives. If God visited man in this world for his sins, not one would go scratchless, not even Bishop Gibney.
I remember a good number of years ago when his lordship was touring through our district, and I don’t think he could, from his observations then, make such unkind remarks as he made the other night in the Town Hall. At the time that I speak of I could venture to say that any of the settlers at the Nor’-West that came in contact with the then Father Gibney treated him as a gentleman, and with the utmost respect. Now, Sir, when his lordship, Bishop Gibney, stigmatises the Nor’-West settlers as slayers of blacks, at the rate of 10 to the 1000 sheep one can only come to the conclusion that his lordship is purposely painting the Nor’-West settlers worse than anything that the worst of them ever approached to. I certainly do not think that Bishop Gibney’s remarks with regard to the Nor’-West settlers shows any Christian spirit. But we will leave Christianity out of the question, and kindly ask his lordship to confine himself to facts the next time he speaks about the Nor’-West settlers in public.
Yours, &c.
McD. MACKAY. Fremantle, Oct. 2.
