The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1900-02-23
Christian Soldiers.
Jadre Pll.eman Gays oi tbs Boers.

~ eneee VnhS WAEo tn0 RWua 1~PN'~
lighter. FIras with him 10 iAith--the
supreme copRdence that God will not
iorsake him In his hour oil peril. he
does not only call on God; be believes In
Him with the unquestioning trust oil
little child. He ie . tChristian soldier.
Hesstarts the day with prayer, he re-
peass passages OF Scripture ~ bullets
swhlstle past him; he sinsa plains Of
praise when the victory is vsA.l
with guus Ia their hands, bibles In
pockets and prayers on their hps, the
,Boers are q formidable foe. The Eng
iish were wont to laugh at these pious
iarmers. They ridiculed their psalm
.siuging and ieered At what was termed
their hypccrisy. But the Bos: could ar
ord 90 bide HE time. This war 10
matter Of conscience with him--not Of
glory 1t is largely his faith in God that
has caused him to defeat the English at
Colenso and Majersiontein and TO wEeSt
blood-stained Spion Kop from them. In
a series Of humiliating defeats the enc
INV has been tAught that these pious
farmers are ioemen worthy OF his steel.
Il has been e surprise TO the civilized
world. Il has shown that even IN this
age Of sceptism she love OF God can
prove mighty weapon in modern VAR
fare.
The Beers ask only freedom. They
have not interIered with England. They
have said to her only, Let US alone.
That il all We ask" Their request wac
refused. The result 10 told In q story OF
blood. They love independence-love 1t
so well that they would rather de 10
win il than live withouti'. They are an
honest, quiet. God-fsaring and Cod
serving people. They are not ambitious.
They have not desired conquest or
eoueht glory. They are fighting for lib
sr,y--she same glorious cause for which
our foreiatbers fought when they wres1ed
their independence from the British
'grasp.
Il must be taken into consideration
th.t the Beers have everything at stake.
To fail N cans the end of hope for them.
The Eoslish soldiers are fighting only
for the glory OF British arms, that anosh
or territory may be seized and added 10
England's vast possessions.
While the Beers are religious. tney
firmly believe in the truth OF the old
maxim that sGod helps him who helps
himself" They have not sat down with
folded hands and prayed for deliverance.
They are shrewd and far-sighted. these
rough old Dutch farmers, and they nave
carefully laid In weapons Of war, ammu
milton and provisions. They are ready
for the fight. Their spirit cannot 90
better illustrated than BY the statement
published at GrahAmstown in June,
1887, by their brave leader. Piet keliel.
Il ended with his declaration:
I'VE are now leaving the frnittui iano
Of our birth, in which we have sunereo
enormous losses and continued vexation
and are about TO enter strange ana
dangerous territory. Bat We 60 with
firm reliance on an sll.seeing, just and
merciful God. whom we shall always lear
and humhly endeayor to obey.
It seems that thsre is something in fhe
silencs and solitude that btings man
nearer to God. The Boers, Watching
their fiocks by night and in the day
travelling over the lonely veldts, speak
of God almost with familiarity. ne
Il 20 constantly in their thoughts
that he is not merely q mighty ruler
dwelling in the heavens, bit friend
who is ever with then.
Daring his visit to the United States
Gen. Joubart said to me;
"When she worst comes to the worst
We shall be ready. We will fight to the
last ditch, to the last gun, to the last
man,
Alta great gathering of the Boera in
Pretoria in 1850 each took ssone in his
maud and sKore solemn oath TO shed
his last drop Of bIoed Cor his country.
The stones were then cast.in heap and
above the pile was erected the Paarde-
kraal monument. At the foot OF this
very monument the Beers held their
meeting before the final outbreak Of war
and here at the last meeting President
Kruger and all his listeners solemnIy re-
peated in unison the psalm, HThe Lord |
that made heaven and earth, bless thee
cut Of Zion" Then this deveut people
took down their guns. II
The Beers love God and home. They
believe that the promises made TO the
IsraeIites of old will be fdl6Iled forthem.
They believe that their God will deliver
them.
Icannot bslieve that the great nations
OF TIE earth will stand aside and let these
righteous people be crushed by the in'
vsder. Surely some nation will mediate.
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