Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-03-16

n series or nlfrplIIat1ng dereats the enemy
has been taught that these pious farmers
are foemen worthy of his steel. 1t has
been a surprise to the civilized world. II
has shown that even in this age Of skep
ticism the love of God can prove a mighty
weapon in modern warfare.
The Beers ask only freedom. They
have not interfered with England. They
have said to her only: Let us alone.
That is all we ask" Their request was
refused. The result is told in a story of
blood. They love independence-love it
so well that they would rather die TO win
il than live without it. They are an hon
est. quiet. God fearing and God serving
people. They are not ambitious They
have not desired conquest or sought glo
ry. They are lighting for hberty-the
same glorious cause for which our fore
fathers fought when they wrested their
independence from the British grasp. 1t
must be taken into consideration that the
Beers have everything at stake. To fail
means the end of hope for them. The
English ldier are lighting only for
the glory of British arms. that another
territory may be seized and added to
E~ngland's vast possessions.
While the Beers are religious. they
firmly believe in the truth of the old
maxim that God helps him who helps
himself" They have not sat down with
folded hands and prayed for deliverance
They are shrewd and farsighted, thes
rough old Dutch farmers. and they hav
carefully laid in weapons OF war. ammu
milton and provisions. They are read
for the fight. Their spirit cannot be BET
ter illustrated than by the statement pub
lished at Grahamstown in June. 1887. h.
their brave leader. Pet Relief. 1t ende,
with this declaration:
1--WE are now leaving the fruitful land
Of our birth. in which we have suffered
enormous losses and continued vexatlon
and are about TO enter a strange and
dangerous territory. But we go with a
firm reliance ON an all seeing, just and
merciful God. whom we shall always fear
aud humhly eudeavor To obey" II seems
that there is something in the silence and
solitude that brings man nearer TO God
The Beers. watching their focks by night
and in the day travelling over the lonely
veldts. speak Of God almost with famH-
iarity. He is SO constantly in their
thoughts that he. IS not merely a mighty
ruler dwelling in the heavens. but a
friend who is ever with them.
Give them q gun. and they know nc
fear. They are men of gigantic stature.
their average height being 6 feet > inch
es. Long bearded. brawny. broad Of
shoulder and with muscles like iron. they
have enormous physical as well as moral
force They are hardened by exposure
and accustomed TO danger. They are
used 10 hunting Big game. When il was
not kaflrs OF Matabeles- il was ele-
plants. lions. bu6aloe> and antelopes-
AT 700 yards these South African MINI
rods could bring down a running buck ev-
cry time. At 900 yards a bird On the
wing could be brought down. When q
lone hunter was attacked by several KAT
frs, he calmly waited until the foremost
was within yards Of him Then he
would load up again and be ready for the
next one. The savaEes knew that the
first one TO approach would surely be
killed. and after awhile il was hard work
TO induce them to attack even a solitary
huntsman. To miss his mark. the Boer
knew. meant death. A man who faces
a hungry lion on the yeIdt needs q steady
hand and unerring aim. In the battle OF
Msjuba Hill the English were nearly all
shot through the head That was proof
Of Boer craftsmanship
The Beers. as shown by this war. are
q generous foe. They have been XII TO
the prisoners and most considerable Of the
wounded. During the visit to the Unit
ed States General Joube<t said - NE;