Devon Dick LAST WEEK, I was reading the Colonial Standard newspaper of October 1865 at the National Library and found that the writer paid glowing tributes to National Hero Rt. Excellent Paul Bogle after the Morant Bay Rebellion, when emotions were running high. The Colonial Standard said that Bogle was a good man who was respected in the community implying that the rebellion was out of character. This is an awesome endorsement of Bogle and confirms that he was known as a man of peace.
COLONIAL STANDARD
It is the same Colonial Standard that had strong condemning words for the black protesters. They were called "notorious", "plunderers", "rebels", "savages", "traitors" and "blood-thirsty". So it is remarkable that in the midst of such sharp language there was a good word for Bogle. It is therefore important in this Heritage Week to examine again Paul Bogle and his work.
Generally, Paul Bogle is regarded as violent and not a man of peace because of the number of deaths associated with the Morant Bay Rebellion. However, it is Governor Edward Eyre who sanctioned the vast majority of the killings. Eyre had 1,013 killed in a three-week period. This is shocking, even by Jamaican standards! We were definitely the murder capital of the world in 1865. So bad was the killing that a report in the Colonial Standard stated, "the hanging work is terrible, but what is to be done?" So awful was the number of homicides that the white ruling class was concerned about an outbreak of disease, "the burial of so many persons might lead to an epidemic". No wonder the New York Times sensational headlines said that there was "Eight miles of bodies". It is the reprisals that were gruesome and not the protest led by Paul Bogle.
VIOLENT PERSON
Paul Bogle is also seen as a violent person because of the 18 persons who were killed after the protest march became violent. However, based on credible reports, it was the volunteers who first fired at Bogle and his fellow peasants. There are missionary records that state that it was the militia that fired the first shot. Some also claimed that Bogle had machetes with them which were their agricultural tools and not weapons.
In addition, it is often forgotten that a similar march by Bogle and 100 protesters a week earlier did not turn violent because they were not fired upon. It is also forgotten that Bogle told the authorities that he was going to march on the Courthouse. (It is sad to read that this historic Morant Bay Courthouse has been closed due to its falling into disrepair). This was no sniper attack. This was no guerrilla warfare. This was a protest against the lack of unemployment, land and justice.
It is also forgotten that after the August 1865 Underhill Meeting in Morant Bay, some resolutions were passed and Bogle and a few men walked for most of the way from Stony Gut in St. Thomas to the then capital, Spanish Town in St. Catherine to talk to Governor Eyre about the terrible conditions in St. Thomas-in-the-East.
It is often forgotten that Bogle was ordained and was regarded according to The Gleaner report of November 10, 1865 as "the Native Parson within the Baptist Church. He knew the Prince of Peace as his personal Lord and Saviour." Bogle felt that he was the instrument of the justice of God. He felt he was God's prophet to pronounce God's judgement. He was the appointed man of God to effect the destruction of the oppressors.
Paul Bogle demonstrates how one should protest. Every effort must be made to discuss the issues; if that fails then one should protest. In addition, one is within one's right to engage in self-defence. Paul Bogle must therefore be seen as a man of peace.
MAKE PEACE WITH ST THOMAS
In addition, the people of Jamaica need to make peace with the people in the parish of St. Thomas. Many persons still regard St. Thomas people as violent and rebellious. Just as unfortunate as classifying St. Thomas as the obeah capital of Jamaica. St. Thomas has suffered setbacks because of these atrocities. In his last Budget speech in the House of Parliament, Ambassador Anthony Hylton proposed that something be done for St. Thomas in light of the historic injustices but the MPs were inattentive and the nation yawned at the suggestions.
What needs to be done? Erect a monument to all who died, and for the thousand houses that were destroyed - build a village of a thousand houses in St. Thomas and have it named "Paul Bogle Peace Village". This will help the nation regard Paul Bogle as a man of peace.
The Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church.
