In December of 1901 James Cook wrote to the Yass Evening Tribune outlining an idea that, after 99 years and a walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge, became known as 'reconciliation'.
Was Jas. Cook the Mr Cook, school teacher at Manton, who married Miss Wilson in 1902?
He is responding to the unedifying debate in the white Yass community as to where the Aborigines were to be settled.
Who he was, whilst interesting, is far less important than what he said:
Sir, Will you kindly allow me to say a few words on your leading article of the 9th instance. You say that " the coloured people" (in my estimation our brothers and sisters) "have never taken kindly to the idea of semi-civilisation." This statement, if true, I ask, where does the fault lie? A little over 100 years ago the lords of this vast Commonwealth of Australia - today, a landless, homeless people - are told by Mr GE Ardill (a Christian) "that drastic measures be resorted to, to remove them" from a locality they should never have been allowed to camp upon; a barren, bleak mass of rocks, on which nothing would grow. Was the placing of these people on these rocks one of the well-meant attempts to help them, or to help them reach that point of final extinction?
In my humble estimation, those are most cruel selfish words you make use of when you say "Nobody probably wishes to prolong the existence of the aboriginal native." I, as one, and thank God there are thousands of the same mettle, long to see their increase and not their death - their occupying in our ranks a place equal to ourselves, and it is an easy matter to accomplish.
In my experience of them in Queensland in the 50s and early 60s in the Maranoa district, I had many opportunities of proving their honesty, their fidelity, and desire to learn. In those days the cry of "let them vanish in peace" was unheard of; it was the rounding up of them, like a mob of cattle by such stockmen as Morehead and Walker with their black devils from the Hunter; with my own eyes I have seen them shot down like dogs, and among them one most faithful boy who had done no wrong; and would willingly have laid that life down to save mine.
I ask, are not these the civilising influences that have been chiefly used to bring them up to the standard of those who now tread the land of their birth, and who today feel such pride in being its owners. Is it not a fact that there are today men of the dark caste who are capable of taking their place at any kind of bush work and shearing alongside of his white brothers? Will you tell me, Sir, that the old lady who tackled the Hon. GH Reid in our local park at the opening of the wing of the Hospital has not the reasoning powers, the up-lifting desire, and the ambition of her white sisters? My opinion is that she has!
In conclusion, the facts of the case are simply these:- The land was theirs in the past, on which they lived, roamed, and prospered; the white man came and took unasked the same; and if he opened his mouth too wide it was stopped with a certain amount of lead; the drink fiend played its part, diseases previously unknown to them spread like a plague; their natural source of food was either destroyed or they were deprived of the right to get it, even to a nest of bees; and today we find people who, from fear of their children being contaminated by the colour, will not allow them to sit in school alongside of a black boy or girl. Where does the civilising power come in?
Yours etc., Jas. COOK.
Best wishes for Reconciliation Week and we should all consider this year's theme - 'In this together'. It has never been more important.
