The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-01-16
TRANSVAAL SECRETARY,
He Writes to an Orange Free State
Official.
A, BITTER ARRANGEMENT.
A Copy of the Letter Sent to Hollanders
of Cleveland List OF Questions
Asked with Irony Fighting
For Freedom.

The News Democrat is in receipt OF
an official public letter setting forth the
wrongs which the South African re-
public feels it has suffered at the hands
of England, and which led to the pres
ent conflict. The letter was written by
f. w. Reitz, secretary of the South
African republic, to p. j. Blignaut, Esq,
government secretary of the Orange
Free state. 1t reads as follows:
Honorable Friend, Free Staters,
Brother Africanders: The catastrophe
with which we have so long been
threatened has at last overtaken us,
and our country is to be bathed in
blood. And why?
Let the murderers, the peace-and-
treaty breakers who are attacking us
answer the question. With their usual
unblushing effrontery they will now de-
clare that not they, but we are the ap-
gressors. We the aggressors? Who is
it that has answered all our attempts
for a peaceful settlement with con-
tempt and even threats? Who is it that
for months past has been mobilizing
troops on our border from all parts of
the world to enforce their friendly ad-
vice? Who is it that for years past
accused us of being oppressors and
tyrants?
Wht is it that, while hypocritically
declaring that they did not wish to i'm
pair our independence, yet continually
attempted to interfere in the internal
affairs of our country? That also en-
trapped us, and even their own repre-
sentative, in mean and despicable
manner, into making certain proposals
1srbi fhaNy NIyptI1H he willing pOn slider
on their merits, even while they were
ready-as soon as these proposals (made
undeniably at their own suggestion)
were formulated-to reject them as an
insult to the British nation; put for
ward with the object of making mis-
chief. Who is it that, under the pre-
text of obtaining the redress of suppos-
ed Uitlander grievances, have ranged
themselves with the capitalists and
rebels with the object of possessing
themselves of Naboth's vineyard?
Who is it that have supported and
aided that traitorous and rebelliOus or
ganization, so-called the League not
withstanding the warnings of their own
acting high commissioner, Sir William
Butler an honorable, famous and high
ly respected general, and of Mr. Schrei-
ner the premier of the only South Afri-
can colony Of any standing? Who is H.
that openly accepted a false petition,
filled with thousands offorged sigma
lures and others obtained by fraud,
without even attempting to prove any
of those signatures?
Who is it that not only left the in
stigators of the shameful Jameson raid
practically unpunished, but even con-
doned the raid, and allowed the prime
movers, with the aid of Her Majesty's
High Commissioner, and her Majesty's
Colonial Secretary, to insult, defraud,
and libel the Afrikander nation in every
possible way, backed by all the in
fluence which mammon can subvert and
control, to the undying disgrace Of our
times. Who are these people?
Is it Sir Alfred Miner, her Majesty's
High Commissioner in South Africa?
Is it Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, the Co
lonial secretary? Is it Lord Salisbury
and the. rest of the British cabinet?
Is it her Majesty the queen of England?
is 1t the British nation2
Alas! We had hope to be able to an
swer the last two questions in the mega
tive, but we cannot
The British cabinet, the British ma
ton, the noble, grace-loving, and aged
sovereign, honored and respected by US
all till now, they have all either con-
doned the injustice which is being done
to us, or they have allowed themselves
to be misled by a man like Chamber
lain in a manner that Just God will
not allow to pass unpunished.
If nations will be punished like indi-
Viduals for condoning an offense as well
as committing one, then this prime min
lister, the nation, this sovereign will not
be able to defend themselves at the bal
of the great Judge for their unrighteous
and unjust deeds. The nation that has
encouraged race hatred, their prime
minister and their anointed queen, whC
have allowed such a disgrace, have
made themselves equally guilty will
the evil-doers, and If it should now hap
pen in South Africa as was the cas-,
in North America, one hundred year
ago, that "Ichabod" became the pass
word of the British Empire, on whom
will the blame rest? "If the blind leat
the blind they will both fall in the pit,
and we shall be able, who knows hoy
soon, to declare of our enemies tha
'whom God wishes to destroy he vii
first make insane"
The statesmen of England, the war
riors, the press, aye, even the preachers
have so often declared to us and tn
whole world that the British empire /
a mighty empire; but we know tina
whoever may be mighty, the Lord ou
God is Almighty.
Brother Afrikanders the great day /
at hand. The God of our fathers wi
be with us in our struggles, the Lor
whose arm has not been shortened s
that he cannot help those who call I
Him in their time of trouble. Let US In
aside our trust In princes, and rails
our eyes in supplication to God ou
banner. BY His help we will do grea
deeds.
Even as the mighty Spain with he
hlOodthiratY AlYa. and her inVincihl