The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-20
VIRGINIA ANDTHIs o1sANGE FREE
STATE.

RI was given out the other day that
when Lord Roberts entered Bloemionte TEN
ne was greeted with enthusiastic cheers.
This greeting came from the Dutch IN
Grabitants of the Orange Free State, and
the meaning of it is that the Free
Staters are sick and tired Of the war
and are only too glad to have AN end to
dt, oven though 1t be at the sacrifice OIL
the independence of the State. The fact
SIS, that the free Staters did not go into
this.war willingly. and we doubt If they
would have Joined with: their neighbors7
in the South African republic in fighting.
the British if 1T had not been for
treaty which was entered into In 1897.
In March of that year President Kruger
succeeded in negotiating with President
South African republic and the Orange
Free State and the preliminary arrange
ments for closer political union between
these two republics. 1t was provided IN
this treaty that If either republic should
be attacked the other should, come to dts
assistance with its full fighting force.
Each State should undertake to help the
other whenever its independence should
be threatened. either from without or
from within.
Skaters were technically bound to join
hands with President Kruker and agree
in advance of his famous ultimatunn to
Britain to aid him in the threatened war
with the British is a question. At any
rate, the Tree Staters did enter into
such an agreement, although they We're
reluctant to do so. and they never en-
tered into the fight with anything like
hearty zest and enthusiasm. There is,
reason to believe that they Joined hands
with Kruger because they eelt that it
was their duty to help their neighbors in
distress.
Nm this view of the situation we are
forcibly reminded of the attitude which
Virginia occupied just before Sumter was
fired upon. Virginia was opposed to
going out OF the Union. She believed an
the right of secession, but she was not
disposed to exercise that right-she was
not disposed to withdraw from the Union:
&c she could in honor and justice remain
in the Union. For months and months
the question was discussed in convention
An Richrnond and zealously the ablest
ana hest men in the State labored to
save the Union. But when Virgintans
saw that the Federal Government pro-
posed 10 exercise force and to send an
army OF invasion into the South-whcn
/ ylrcinians saw that they must aid the
worth in this unconstitutional and upright
eo,,s invasion as the only alternative OF
remaining within the Union--they unhesi-
fat;rgly cast their lot with their neigh
bors ana brethren OF the South, and there
WAS no hesitation about st. Like the
ornnEe Free Staters, Virs!nians under
etood that their State would be the bat
t,c-cround and that Virginia would snf-
fer hrst and suffer last and suffer more
thun all the States. But this did not
deter them. When the fighting time came
! virEinians went into the fight, and We
taltnk chat we may say with AL becoming
1 nodesfy5 that Virginia troops. from Ro-
/ bert g. Lee down to the humblest pri-s
sate. gave a good account OF themselves
during the long and bloody war that fol-
lowed. .=S
81 At Eis said that the ORANGE Free staters5
went To war without having no heart in
This p;sas not e; the case, however with
yingtninns. After the 1sst gun vas fired
thcre we're no Union men An the army.
There were no men in tho army who
were faint -hearted. Our troops all en-ss
! tered heart and soul into the cause and
fought with d zeal and q detesninat Hon
and . coascicntto BUSINESS md in erthu-s
I slasan mat haze rarely ractcr1zed the
soldiers ~ amp as