Letter from F. S. Malan to journalist Eric Tucker, dated 7th March, 1936

205 x 128 mm (folded); two leaves of lined paper, with the ink stamp of 'The Senate, Cape Town', written on three sides in manuscript. A few minor fox spots. Very good condition. François Stephanus Malan (1871-1941), prominent figure in Afrikaner culture and Union politics, was editor of 'Ons Land', politician and cabinet minister. "Malan's last important struggle," according to 'Dictionary of South African Biography' (Vol. 1, p. 498), "took place in 1936 when, true to the 'liberal' attitude of the Cape, which he maintained zealously throughout his political career, he joined Jan H. Hofmeyr in a fruitless attempt to resist legislation introduced by General Hertzog, in terms of which he sought to place Bantu voters on a separate roll and have them represented separately in parliament by whites." Malan was, if anything, more determinedly egalitarian in his approach than Hofmeyr, who reasoned: "I am not one of those who would necessarily stand or fall by the ideal of common citizenship as an absolute thing. I do not go with the Right Hon. Senator Malan to that extent." (Paton: Hofmeyr, p. 226) This appears to be the chapter of F. S. Malan's life referred to in his contemporary letter to Eric Tucker: "Dear Mr. Tucker, / Many thanks for your words of appreciation and encouragement. I received your letter Thursday afternoon at 6 just after a very trying afternoon in the Joint Sitting. I cannot tell you how much I value your support, especially as it came so unexpectedly and spontaneously. ... has said that we who stand for the liberal, human principle will 'die in the last ditch.' Well, I have no intention of giving up the fight, if that is what is meant by 'die in the last ditch'; but even if I should go under, I believe the cause for which I stand will continue. The future of right principles does not depend on a majority of today. Your name brought back to my mind the late Senator Tucker, and I thought that you might be his son. Mr. Rheinallt Jones tells me however that you are his (senator's) nephew. The Joint Sitting stands adjourned till the 30th inst. In the meantime let us 'watch and pray'. / With kind regards, / Yours sincerely / F.S. Malan." Rian Malan has written of his clan's divergent attitudes to racial equality, with representatives F. S. Malan, an isolated figure pleading for an open franchise, and D. F. Malan, first National Party prime minister, at opposite ends of the spectrum. .