The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-09-11
FUTURE OF The BOERs
General De Villiers Tells OF the
Outlook For His People.
WILL BE FAITHFUL TO NEW RULE.

WILL BE FAITHFUL TO NEW RULE.
Country North OF the TransvaaI to
BE Subdued - Work to Be Done
Quietly and Faithfully - Devotion
of the Boer Women-Prose and Po-
etic Literature of the War.
Before sailing for South Africa one
Of the younger Boer leaders, J. de
Villiers, formerly attorney general Of
the Orange Free State and SCARED
| fighter, who was prisoner In Bermu-
da, spoke recently at the Union Square
| hotel In New York Of the devotion Of
the Boer soldiers.
ut is the only manful thing to ac-
cept facts as we find them now" Gen
eral de Villiers said to reporter Of
| the New York Commercial Advertiser,
land that we have done, but It has re-
| CURED almost greater courage than for
the fiercest charge on the battlefield.
My one consolation now, and indeed
all through the weary struggle, has
been the thought that while many
high In rank were found wanting in
the hour Of need, there were many
more, even in the lowest ranks, who
were ready for any trial and unafraid.
Their devotion has been the sustaining
power through the long three years.
Never were the women OF distressed
country more devoted, not only In the
tender sympathy and support SO natu-
raj to them, but in rougher and more
active service. When the war broke
out, the Boer women were not only
sewing and stitching. but blowing and
many an instance Of wife sending
back to the ranks her discouraged and
DESERVING husband better and drawer
man. Others have known who, rath-
er than let their cattle fall into the
hands Of the enemy, have followed the
army for days-liks the Roman ma
iron, you say, who dispatched her
sons to the battlefield with this fare
well: Return with your shields or up
on them Yes, that is quite true.
Nov, of course, we are bound for
our homes, such as they are, to do our
share in the advancement of South At
RIGA. There is a great land north Of
the Iransvaal still to be subdued, and
the portion OF the labor that falls to
us will be quietly and faithfully done.
The term sBoer' itself means tiller Of
the soil,' but Olive Schreiner well dis
tnguishes between our two main
types. If Boer knows but Dutch,
he is a Boer; If two languages, he is
South African There are many of
this latter class among US, and they
are well able to take up work in any
line Of science or industry.
Like your fathers In the days OF
| 1776, we had but an unframed body
Of men, but In this age Of telegraph
and cable and machine gun it is still
more difficult for rev army to win
than In former centuries. But we have
fought our fight, and is it not the high
est thing in the world to be SO loyal
to cause, whether it be right or
wrong, that it is JOY to give your life
| for It? / am sure 1t is.
L ucIG ludy Uc Qu1lC q A1OOA AAtSAo-
ture Of this war, for there are many
men who can give able accounts of the
struggle, and will. One literary clergy
man in South Africa / know who has
his history almost complete. We have
several rhymsters too. One in our own
| body of prisoners has written many
stirring war songs. The Boer is very
| = nd
manageable IL you understand him,
| but he is a very feeling man, even If
not always so very demonstrative. You
| have heard how my comrades received
| the news Of peace-by singing the One
| Hundred and forty-sixth psalm. 1t was
no vain thing either; it was heartfelt
and pathetic to see the scores of fight
ers in prison walls cheerful and re
signed no matter what their fate.
Every morning and evening through
| out the war at sunrise and sunset we
have held prayers and chanted some
song or psalm as did Cromwell's army
| on Marston Moor or DumbartOn. 1t
may not appeal to foreigners, but It
always has to me, the war hymn.
| plaintive II itself, but made sonoroug
and tremendous when many thou
sand throats lift it to the skies. And
now all is over. But we have fought
4 q good fight and are content. We have
remained faithful to our old govern
ment to the end and mean to remain
faithful to the new"