Life in Afrikanderland as viewed by an Afrikander: A story of life in South Africa, based on truthCIOS
History
Life in Afrikanderland as viewed by an Afrikander: A story of life in South Africa, based on truth
CIOS
Afrikaners; South Africa -- History -- Fiction
It is true that Mr Chamberlain sent what he called friendly advice
only, but everybody knew that it was intended to be taken as a demand.
And how was this advice sent?
Mr Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, drew up a long
despatch in which he raked up long forgotten incidents of South African
history. He reminded President Kruger of past friendliness shown by
England to the Transvaal and Afrikanders. But he forgot to mention one
incident of the overwhelming number of times that England had acted in
an unfriendly and even unjust manner. He reminded the Government of
the South African Republic that England had shown mercy in Bechuanaland
to certain Afrikanders who had resisted English pretensions there. But
Mr Chamberlain forgot to mention Slachtersnek, where Boers were hung
like felons on a gallows for resisting England. He forgot to mention
Boomplaats, where Boers again were shot--murdered--for fighting for
their own country and for hard-earned freedom.
Mr Chamberlain did not remind President Kruger that the Government of
the South African Republic was in possession of a certain document (for
which Piet Retief and forty of his comrades gave their lives) by which
they could prove that Natal belongs to the Boers by every just claim
and by every law of nations.
Mr Chamberlain did not remind President Kruger that England took from
the Free State Boers the richest diamond mine in the world, and, out
of a remnant of shame, forced the Free State to take £90,000 for the
Kimberley diamond mines--£90,000 for what is worth £90,000,000. But if
it was worth 90 pence, every country has the right to keep what it has,
without being forced to sell it. Alas no, Mr Chamberlain was not shamed
into telling President Kruger that England had persecuted and oppressed
the Boers for the last ninety years; he did not ask the President to
heap coals of fire on the heads of the British nation by showing the
magnanimity to the British subjects that Britain refused the Boers.
Mr Chamberlain capped his despatch by _advising_ (?) President Kruger
to give Johannesburg a variety of _Home Rule_. Alas, the inconsistency
of man. Mr Chamberlain, who is a Unionist, and opponent of Home Rule
for Ireland, advises the South African Republic to give Home Rule to
Johannesburg.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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