Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-11-04

For death itself would be sweet compared with the
step which we must now take. But let us bow
before the will of God.
"sThe future is dark indeed, but we will not
give up courage nor hope and trust in God NO
one shall convince that this unparalleled sacri-
fee which the African nation has laid upon Inc
altar Of freedom will be in vain. It has been war
for freedom-and not only for the freedom OF the
Beers, but for the freedom of all the nations OF
South Africa It's results we leave in Gods nands.
Perhaps 1t is His will to lead our nation through
defeat through abasement yes and even through
the valley Of the shadow of death, to the glory OF
a nobler future to the light of a brighter day.
SHUTS prevailed And his "brighter day" came
quickly Death had removed Cecil Rhodes for
quarter of century the dominating personality Oh
the imperial side in South African politics, the man
morally culpable' in the famous Jameson raid, :"
the diamond king who left by will practically his
whole fortune of $3OO0OO0O to the public service.
Within few years after the war, under the lead
ership Of Botha and Smuts the Boer nation arose
out of the wreck of the Boer republics In 1910
Cape Colony Natal Orange Free State and the
Transvaal became the Union of South Africa, with
the consent and approval of the British govern
ment. 1t contains 473OOO square miles and 6OOO,-
600 people. 1t is practically self-governing ma
tion 1t has liberal constitution and a parlia-
ment and the Beers are in the majority Both
the English and Dutch languages are official.
together these confederated colonies when the
World war called him again into the field. This
time he went in as the head of an army and took
German East Africa from the Germans.
The necessities of the British empire then
called SHUTS to England for counsel. The war
won, SHUTS took major place at the peace con-
ference through sheer moral force and intellect.
He had much to do with forming the League of
Nations. He helped construct the treaty and he
signed it. But he filed a memorandum of protest
and explanations as to terms forced into it against
his will That protest his admirers say, marks
him as a prophet as well as statesman.
SHUTS has been called an liable compromiser"
an "opportunist in politics" and "all things to
all men," And his nickname in his own country
among the old-time trekkers is "Slim Jamie"
"Slim'' meaning tricky, slick evasve.
The career of Smuts however, seems to sup
port the view of his admirers that in matters of
principle he has always stood steadfast as bed
rock. His admirers put it this way "He has
way of overlooking unessential details which
smaller stumble over" They assert that he
is an all-around of firm will, determined
character, great experience and hard common
sense They also speak with admiration for his
tact 1t is this tact that earned for him the "Slm"
of the oldtime Beers. He has an easy tact which
makes for amability and srnooths over disagree
able situations. Also he is just about the best
whist player in South Africa and the old Beers
cards!
In the old Boer household, such SHUTS
FROM says Mr. Hill, the coffee-pot is always boil
ing With cup of coffee and piece of biltong
(dried meat) the Boer fight or trek all day
long. Shuts only bad habit, il 1t can be called
a bad habit, is addiction to coffee. He neither
drinks liquor Of any kind nor smokes, and he eats
sparingy.
He is essentially an out-of doors man bnd his
body is wiry and rangy. He has the stride of
man familiar with long marches and the natural
swing of who is at home in the saddle. He
speaks with vigor and sometimes with emotion.
The Boer is not a demonstrative or emotional
person and SHUTS has much of the racial reserve.
At times he is an inspired orator. and something
of his place in the world is due to his eloquent
tongue. He seems to lack the tricks of the spell
binders trade He is forcefu convincing and
persuasive.
There is strong religious trend in the charac-
ter of General SHUTS. He comes of strain of
men who went into battle with supplicaticns to
God upon their lips, a stock that held in ridcule
and contempt the goddess ways of other people.