The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-03-31
A STRONG APPEAL.
President Steyn's Speech to His Brave
BurgherS. d..

The following, which bore date OF
Durham, Feb d. is the full text of the
speech made by President steyn to the
burghers in Joubert's lager outside
Ladysmith on the occasion of his recent
visit:
Brother Afrikanders, I am rejoiced
to meet you all here armed as you are
in connection with the South African
cause. Our cause is the whole of South
Africa. 1t is great struggle which We
cannot carry on in our own strength,
and which has certainly not been de-
sired by us, but the struggle has been
forced upon lis by Great Britain, and
we have taken our places in the fight
in the presence of the Almighty.
make bold to say that if the decision
had rested with It's there would have
been no fighting, but Great Britain de-
sired to see the blood Of the Afrikan-
ders she'd In several places the British
have shed the blood OF both Transvaai
ers and Free Staters, and that blood
has been drunk on the soil OF South
Africa as it has mingled together on
the field OF battle; but England desires
still more Afrikander blood, and seems
to have determined to drink its fill
thereof. Has not Sir Alfred Miner de-
clared that the power OF Afrikanders
must be broken? That is the ultimate
purpose of this unholy war.
"But, my dear brothers, the Almighty
will never permit Afrikanders to be OPP
pressed. Therefore strive manfully III
discharge OF your duty which God has,
laid upon YOU Think OF the fact that
we do not strive alone for our own in
dependence, but for our lives and the
future OF our progeny; think of the
words used by President Kruger, the
gray headed statesman, That he who
will save life shall lose it, but he who
will lose his life will find it, Therefore
stand firm and do not allow yourselves
Ia be filled with fear on account OF the
number, of your enemies. Remember
that the man who, iorsaking his post in
the moment oil danger, and thus seeks
to save his life rather than to defend the
freedom OF his people, will not only lose
his own life, but he will probably be The
cause of many of his brethren falling:
and let it rot be said among you that
the Transvaal has done this or the Free
Staters have done that. We stand as
one people, and as Afrikanders against
the forces of the enemy of the Atrl-
kandcr family. TIE help of the Al
mighty has been most distinctly given
to lis. He is on our side Let us there
fore not flee in face of even the greatest
danger, but let lis remember that just
as little as the Almighty gives bread to
the lazy man, just so little will He give
victory to us without severe struggle.
Shall we give up the struggle? The
blood of Piet Uys, as others OF Our
fathers and of our sons, calls to us
from the soil of Natal; sons OF South
Africa, Stf1Ve lOI tAC iASSooAA ~, 80,
race; God is your helper, and with HIS
help you are sure to overcome. Broth
ers, if we trust in God as did our fore
fathers, though we are slain, yet shall
we conquer. Let the enemy rob and
plunder as he will, let him act as bar
barous horde, but do not soil your
hands with such things. The Lord can
not favor those who act in such manner
and will withdraw His hand from YOU
Eight as Christians, and you will
certainly win. Let us be guilty OF no
action of which our God cannot APP
prove, but let lis stand fast in freedom
v hich has been given by Him to us as
an heritage, and may He bless our ef-
forts for the security Of South African
freedom ~ ,'N .,'7-9f4t'+
This address was listened to, says the
lVolkssten1, with the greatest attention
and interest by the burghers, and was
followed by few hearty words from
Gen. Joubert. o; ,al r6o6 agcs3.