The Portland daily press., 1899-12-23
(Brom l'Univsrre Of. Nov. o.

(Brom rUniverfe Of Nov. 81
Under the title, "Exposs commemorate
ct hisiorique des evenements, . propos de
% prssente criss" (oommemorative and
historical exposition Of events In relation
TO the present orisis), Gen. PET Joubert
com mandsr-in-o hief Of the republican
army and vice-P President Of the Trans
vaal State, addressed. q few days bsfore
forwarding the Boer ulitmatum. to the
British government an open letter to
Queen Victoria. We reprint from lie
Matin" the most significant parts'
1.-THE 10Th Of Decembsr, 1880, England
declared war to the Boers without taxing
to account the convention Of 1863, BY
which she had guaranteed their indapend-
enoe. The poor Beers had no artillery, no
ammunitions, no modern rides, NO filed
treasury. They only had for arms their
old fintiooks, and, at the most, one hun
bred cartridges per gun. In regard to
provisions and clothing they were not
better provided. Most Of their officers
had just been commissioned; they had
never seen fire and did not know what
war was; and tn pee were the men who
had to take arms and light And against
whomf Against your Majesty. Against
Great Britain No, thanks To God. but
against those people who, by means OF
false reprssen tations, had brought the
British Empire to commit q disgraceful
action, and who soiIed your MsjIs and
the British Empire in propot ing the OPP
preston Of people OF which your Majesty
had guaranteed the Independence BY the
- ~A~tA
"And 1t 10 thus that war took place be-
tw cen the Beers and England. Arrived
finally to the conclusion that they would
never succeed to obtain better and more
just sentiments with protestations and
petitions, with oppressors without pity,
the Beers decided to conquer again their
liberty ct the price Of their blood. Al
though the number Of brave English sol-
diers who fell In the strife was superior
to the lotsss OF the beers, these losses
were, notwtth standing. more important
and more 1olorous, seeing that the or
Beers and the soldiers. The Boer fought
for his pcssef slons, for his country, for
his government He 10 the father Of q
family. and 10 he falls on the battle field
he le, behind him widow and children.
So netimes, also, he IL thu son Of widow
CT CT old and ipfirm parents, which lose
with him their only means OF support.
For the soldier, things are different War
is his profession, and he is paid 10 make
It. His supreme ambition is-and he does
not think of anything else-to execute
the orders OF his chief and to win . medal
as reward for his bravery. He does not
prsocoupy himself OF the object for which
he tights or Of the equity OF the course
that he defends All that 10 indifferent
| to him.
"But the others. who occupy high posi-
| lions; those VINO remain sheltered from
NJ ~ o. twks he
benefits they will derive from the soldiers
| blood, they ought to think somewhat OF
all the sadness, all the miseries Of which
they are the Gauss and for which they
will have one day to answer when they
| shall ind Their sslves In tbs presence of
the eternal Col OF heaven and earth,
wto certainly will demand OF them an
account OF the busir SIS transacted BY tbs
suit ordinates under their COMMAND. But
the sequences of the war OF 1851 we're
not too disastrous, although the light
was painful and determined and the
Beers losses were great: God granted t,
them the final victory. 4 man assembled
to cover In England. Mr.. Gladstone. a
man loyal and pious who knew how to
see in these events the manifest will OF
the Almighty, and who was not too proud
to admit 1t or to bravely declare that
equity ennobles . nation-his nationwide
nation OF your Majesty; while injquity
and injustice blot forever the good name
OF q people. Incited TO this decision BY
noble and generous ssntiments, he caused
the unjust war to osase; and, In trans.
forming into an ACT Of high equity an
ENTERPRISE of violence, he rehabilitated
Great Britain In her homer.
"Peace was, therefore, concluded at
Laingsnsk and the Beers were enabled
again to consider Great Britain as q
friendly nation. But their public debt
WAS increased, the English having i'm
posed heavy charges Il must respectfully
repeat IL here) never recognized by the
armament defective, their ammunition
exhausted, and, finally, the treaty of
peace conceived in such terms that 10 was
impossible to consider IL % final This
treaty. In fact, could to reyocated at any
time, and there was no arbitration tri-
bunal to appreciate Its disposition. But
| the Beers were again Independent, and
they believed that everything would come
right In the future.
"May your Majesty think over the &C.
tions OF these men who now cry 'oppres-
sionp Oppressed Them The men who
have accumulated fortunes In our country
and who are richer than ever was any OF
the old trekkers (immiRrarts,) and ever
will be their children or grandchildren
| Oppressed Those who have tried to upset
the South African Republic and have
| caused the panic In Johannesburg and
the departure Of many afriGhted inhabi-
tants; those who are responsible for the
terrible railway accident In Natalie.
which cost their life to so many human
beings. Oppressed At last those who
shall have to answer for the blood split
In the terrible invasion Of Jameson, as
well as for the blood that shall be split
tomorrow
"PIET JoUBERT,
"Vioe- Preitdsnt of the South African