In the Shadow of DeathKritzinger, P. H. (Pieter Hendrick)
History
In the Shadow of Death
Kritzinger, P. H. (Pieter Hendrick)
South African War, 1899-1902 -- Personal narratives
Are these not qualities which recommend themselves as worthy of
admiration? Are they not indications of much that is noble and good,
even though the foe be vanquished? Do not the English pride themselves
in possessing these very qualities, qualities which, they say, have made
them a great and mighty nation? Be it so; let them gently deal with the
Boer, who is possessed of these noble attributes in common with
themselves. We hope that they will treat their new subjects with due
consideration. What a happy day will it be for South Africa when Boer
and Briton, through the length and breadth of that blood-stained land,
have learned the secret of living as friends and brothers, respecting
one another, as befits Christian people. Will that happy day ever dawn,
or is South Africa doomed to be a land of discord? Let us hope that the
unhappy past will gradually be effaced from the memory of both Dutch and
English. Let the English Government exercise discretion in introducing a
South African policy which shall tend to reconcile and unite, not
embitter and sever.
What about the faults and defects of the Boer? some may be asking. While
commenting on the different phases of the Boer character, we have
alluded to and admitted many of these; for they are many. There is
indeed much which we lament in the character of our people, and which we
would, if it were possible, gladly alter or improve upon. Not all of
them are good patriots, saints and heroes. Neither are all resourceful,
kind-hearted, hospitable, and attached to their homes. There were
"National Scouts," traitors, renegades, among the burghers! Among the
women there were, alas! some, not many, who yielded to temptation. Such
characters are found among all nations. Among the Boers they formed a
small minority, and were the exceptions and not the general rule.
CHAPTER X.
THE RISING IN THE CAPE COLONY.
Having been in the full tide of the emotions of the Cape
Colony--emotions which led to the taking up of arms--we feel ourselves
justified in setting down those things which were to the Cape Colonist
the justification of a warlike and anti-British policy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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