Free
State after Steyn's election the latter introduced him at a
public banquet with these words, "This is my Father!" The thought
occurred to me at the time, "Yes, and you are waiting for your
father's shoes." He hoped to succeed "his father" as President of
the combined republics of united South Africa. For this giddy
vision he ignored the real interests of our little state, and
dragged the country into an absolutely unnecessary and insane
war. I maintain there were only two courses open to England in
answer to Kruger's challenging policy--to fight, or to retire
from South Africa--and it was only possible for men suffering
from tremendously swollen heads, such as our leaders were
suffering from, to doubt the issue.

I ask any man to tell me what quarrel we had with England? Was
any injury done to us? Such questions make one's hair stand on
end. Whether knave or fool, Steyn did not prepare himself
adequately for his gigantic undertaking. He commenced this war
with a firm trust in God and the most gross negligence. But it is
impossible to reason with the men now at the front. With the
exception of a few officials these men consist of ignorant
"bywoners," augmented by desperate men from the Cape who have
nothing to lose, and who lead a jolly rollicking life on
commando, stealing and looting from the farmers who have
surrendered, and whom they opprobriously call "handsuppers!"

These bywoners believe any preposterous story their leaders tell
them in order to keep them together. One of my sons who was taken
prisoner by Theron because he had laid down his arms, told me,
after his escape, it was common laager talk that 60,000 Russians,
Americans and Frenchmen were on the water, and expected daily;
that China had invaded and occupied England, and that only a
small corner of that country still resisted. These are the men
who are terrifying their own people. I could instance hundreds
of cases to show their atrocious conduct. Notorious thieves and
cowards are allowed to clear isolated farmhouses of every
valuable. Widows whose husbands have been killed on commando are
not safe from their depredations. They have even set fire to
dwelling-houses while the inmates were asleep inside.

As to the perfect accuracy of these accusations I can scarcely claim