The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 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
"The future is dark. indeed. but we will not
give up courage nor hope and trust in God no
shall convince me that this unparalleled sacri-
flee which the African nation has laid upon the
altar Of freedom will be in vain 1t has been war
for freetfom-and not only for the freedom or the
Beers. but for the freedom of all the nations OF
South Africa. Its results leave in Gods hands
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
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 on
the imperial side in South African politics. the man
morally culpabe" in the famous Jameson raid," ;"
the diamond king who left by Will practically his
whole fortune of $3O,OOO,OOO to the public service.
Within few years after the war. under the lead
ership of Botha and SHUTS. 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 $4,000 square miles and 5000
600 people. 1t is practically a self-governing ma
ton 1t has liberal constitution and parlia-
ment and the Beers in the majority. Both
the English and Dutch languages are official.
SHUTS was still engaged on the task of holding
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 Smuts to England for counsel. The war
won,f Smuts 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 memorandum of protest
and explanations to terms forced into it against
lie will Thot adj saw mar =
him prophet as well as statesman -
SHUTS has been called liable compromiseg y
an "opportunist in politics. and "a things to
all men," And his nickname in his own country
among the old-time trekkers is ''Slim Jamie -
slim meaning tricky, slick. evasive.
-1rhe career of Smuts. however. to sup
port the view Of his admirers that In matters of
principle he has always stood steadfast bed
rock. His admirers put 1t this way He has a
way of overlooking unessenNpl details which
smaller men stumble over" They assert that he
is an all-arounds of firm will, determined
character great experience and hard common
sense They also speak with admiration for his
tact. 1t is this that earned for him the slim
of the old-time Beers. He hassan easy tact which
makes for amiability and snlooths over disagree
able situations Also. he is just about the best
whist player in South Africa and the old Beers
thought he was very wicked because he played
cards,
In the old Boer household, such Smuts came
FROM says Mr.. Hill, the cofee-pot IS always boil
ing. With a cups,of coffee and piece of ptong
fdrie4l meat) the Boer fight or trek all day
long SHUTS only bad .babit, If it, can be called
a'bad habit is addiction to coffee. He neither
drinks liquor Of any kind nor smokes and he eats
ssIhriagly.
He is essentially out-of-doors man and his
body issviry and rangy. He has the stride of a
man familiar with long marches and the natural
swing Of one who is at home in the saddle. He
speaks with vgor and sometimes with emotion
The Poor Is not demonstrative emotional
person and Smuts has much of the racial reserve
AT times he Is an inspired orator and something
of his place in the world is due to MS eloquent
tongue He seems to lack the tricks of the spell
binders trader. He is forcefui, convincing and
.tpersuasiye-e s------+-
There is a strong religious trend In the charac-
ter of General SHUTS He comes of strain OF
men who went into battle with supplications to
God upon their lips. stock that held In ridicule
and contempt the goddess ways of other people