The Boer nation's English problem: The story of a small white nation in Southern Africa and its struggle to exist

176 Pages·1977·35.114 MB·English

by  Tomas Berry Floyd

T. B. FLOYD
e 8' i
iW Ok
The Story of a small white nation
in Southern Africa
and its struggle to exist
The
Boer Nation's
English Problem:
The Story of a small white nation in
Southern Africa and its struggle to exist.
T.B. FLOYD
First edition — grst impression 1977
Copyright © 1977
Published by T,B, Boyd
ISBN 0 620 02671 5
Set in 10 on 12pt Times VIP by
Dieter Zimmermann (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg
Printed by
Sigma Press (Pty) Ltd, Pretoria
Contents
• Introduction 1
I. The Boero r Afrikaner
37
II. How Did the Boer Nation Arise?
III. The English Problem Begins 29
IV. NewH ope Arises 38
V. Not Quite Freeo f the English Problem 48
VI. Further Anglisation in the Cape Colony and the
English Problem Extends Once More to the
Transvaal 62
VII, Beaten into the Dust But Not Conquered 74
VIII. The Pohtical Struggle — War Without Bullets 82
IX. The Pohtical Struggle — War Without Bullets
Continues 101
X. Effect of the English Problem on the Cultural and
Spiritual Growth of the Boer Nation
XI Effect of the English Problem on the Economical
Growth of the Boer Nation 132
XII. The Right of One Nation to Conquer and Rule
Another 135
XIII Boers of Afrikanerland 142
XIV Conscience Sedatives 151
XV. Conclusion: Unity as a Nation 155
Introduction
This story is about one of those small nations who has been faced
with the problem of conquest and domination by a strong power
but who has fought back to maintain its identity and recover what
was lost i.e. to undo the conquest.
As the sub-title of this book makes clear the story deals with
group attitudes and a struggle between groups and not individuals.
Among the white groups intermarriage and strong friendships
exist between members of the rival groups. These friendships and
intermarriage usuaHy occur by the Boer sacrificing some of his
group interests usually at least that of his own language. In the case
of intermarriage the Boer usually also sacrifices the bond with his
church. In intermarriage it is usually but not always the Boer that
sacrifices. There are sometimes cases, however, when persons of
other nationality come over to the Boer group.
When the one completely adopts the other's group there is no
gap in the relationship but if this is not done, it does not matter
how close the friendship or family relationship is, there always
remainst he gap caused by group differences.
This gapn arrows among a few, who are able to talk and discuss
the group struggle whilst not agreeing with each other. In most
cases it is a real gap and topics concerning the group conlict of the
Boer and his conqueror are studiously avoided.
The gap never closes unless the one or other of the parties
relinquishes the attachment to his group and suppresses all na-
tional feelings or becomes a part of the other group. Even in the
case of family relationships where the group differences exist or
later enter is this so. The closest relationship does not eliminate it
and it is found between husband and wife, brothers and sisters as
well as parents and their children.
This gap sets up that longing in the hearts of most people in
Afrikanerland for unity, for a state of affairs where all white
I
persons belong to the same group.
Political leaders are quick to sense this and exploit it terribly in
all sorts of deceitful ways and offer all kinds of quack ande ven silly
solutions. %hereas in reality this can only be achieved by absorp-
tion, which nature would bring about if the hindrances and
interferences were removed. A problem, which arises out of the
English problem, for any Boer statesman to solve is the breaking
down or neutralizing of all the artiScial hindrances and interfer-
ences with the work of nature in the absoption of other elements
into the Boer nation.
The Boer or Afrikaner Nation
During the period 1899-1902 there was no better known small
nation in the world than the Boer nation. The reason that this
small nation of about half-a-million persons became so well known
was that it was involved in a war with the most powerM empire, at
that time, in the world. An empire that boasted that it was so great
and widespread that the sun never set on it. It controlled the seas
of the world with a mighty fleet.
The total regular army of the Enghsh outnumbered the Boer
force by 20 to 1 and the potential force of the English was far
greater. The e>mparative strengths of manpower and resources
showed far greater odds against the Boers.
For three years the Boers kept up the unequal struggle, lighting
so bravely that the whole world was thrilled by their heroism. Two
of their generals i.e. Koos de la Rey and Christiaan R. de Wet,
better known as fighting De la Rey and slippery De %et, became
household words. Both these generals lost a young son in the war.
It was not only that the Boers fought bravely but they generally
foilght cleanly, observing the rules of the Geneva Convention. This
they did in spite of the enemy's provocation when the latter did not
observe the Convention's rules.
Prior to the commencement of the war the English flooded the
world with untruthful propaganda against the Boers. It was said
that the Outlanders were badly and unfairly treated yet over 2 000
Outlanders of various nationalities formed corps to fight for the
Boers. Among these were the following nations:
German, Irish, Scandanavian, Netherlands, French, Italian and
Russian. In addition the Americans and Austrians formed scout
corps. In many Boer commandoes there were Englishmen,
Irishmen,S cotsmen and others who had become Boer citizens.
The total amounted to about 5'Foo f the Boers' fighting forces.
Before the war began 23 000 Outlanders signed a petition to
President Kruger stating that they were sell satisfied with his
Government.
At this stage Sir William Butler, who acted as High Commis-
sioner in the Cape Colony during Sir Alfred Milner's absence,
talked of a "collosal syndicate for the spread of rnisrepresenta-
tion.'"
Another imperialist A.R. Colquhoun wrote of the Boers of the
period as follows: The Afrikaners are a magnificent race, tall, lithe,
sturdy,shyingno signs of decline mentally or physcially and can
hold their own against all comers."
I. Moore M.A., a British teacher commented in the press as
follows: "Anyone who has a knowledge gained by practical
experience and not by hearsay, of the efforts made by the
Government for outlander children must admit that it is doing
more for the children of an alien race than any government
whatever,"
Before and during the war the aged President of the Transvaal
was not spared from malicious propaganda against him. This
Godfearing man was belittled and made out to be backward,
stubborn, stupid and bad.
The answer to this may be found in the tribute paid to his
memory by Arthur Griffith, the first prime minister of the Irish
Free State and one of Ireland's greatest political thinkers and
national statesmen. As a young man he had worked in Pretoria,
Middelburg and Johannesburg and knew the President.
On the death of Paul Kruger he wrote as follows: "When the
little great men of the nineteenth century have passed from ail
human memory — the scheming Bismarcks and Disraelis and the
tinsel puppets seemingly great on thrones — the name of Paul
Kruger will remain in mans' memory." He also wrote of Kruger:
"He was not boorish, he was not ignorant, he was not bigoted — he
had am ind of breadth and depth such as few men possess,H e had
all the quiet, grave courtesy of the Boer, who, whether in town or
on the veldt, is a natural gentleman, always intensely respectful to
women, without at first considering her station before showing her
respect — Bigoted! the man had a heart full of sympathy and pity
for the suffering and weak of all races, of every species. He could
not have been the great inan he was, had he not been as pitiful as
he was strong..."
The malicious propaganda against the Boers before the war was
increased during the war. It had its greatest effect with the English
people, and resulted in many of their soldiers thinking they had to
fight against half-savages and brutes.
Michael Davitt tells the story that when the Boers took Dundee
in Natal on the 23rd October, 1899, they found some wounded
English soldiers in a barn. As the Boers drew near, one of the
soldiers cried out "May God have mercy on us, here they come!
They will cut our throats." To this a Boer caUed out "Oh no we
won' t, we are christians like yourselves and you will be treated just
as kindly as our own wounded.'"
Lt. C.E. Kinahan was taken a prisoner by the Boers at the Battle
of Nicholsonsnek, and the letter he wrote to his father betrays
what he had expected and what he experienced.' This letter
contains the following: "%hile we were in their laager' they
treated usextremely well andg ave us food and tobacco. AU you
read about the Boers in England is absolutely untrue; they are
most kind to the funded and prisoners, looking after them as
well as their own wounded and anything they' ve got they wiU give
you if you ask them, even if they deprive themselves."
Once the war had started the English propaganda had but small
effect on the world opinion at large because most people were
fascinated by the great bravery of the little Boer nation in its fight
for freedom. Brave men fighting for right and justice against a
tyrant will always be admired and this was what was taking place.
The Boers were fighting for their very existence as a nation-
fighting to preserve all that was dear to them i.e. their land, their
language, their outlook on life, their own ways and manners.
They were only able to carry on with such an heroic struggle
against great odds because their background development had
bred ar ace of men and women who were hardy, tough, indepen-
dent, self-reliant, Godfearing and full of faith in their Creator.
They believed that the Creator hadbrouhgttheir nation into being
for a purpose and that in Southern Africa they had a task to fulfiU
for which they alone were responsible. They developed a strong
faith that, although the Creator may punish or discipline thein, He
would neverf orsake them.
Time and again in their history it appears that those who retain
this faith remain strong under the most adverse circumstances,
whilst those that lose it or doubt it, act weakly.
The questions that obviously now arise are as foUows:
(1) How did the Boer nation arise'?
(2) %by were they forced to fight for their freedoms
(3) How did this confiict arise in South Africa?
(4) Was it the erst armed con%et between the great Engbsh
power and the little Boer nation?
(5) Did the Boers not get what they deserved in that what they
took from others was again taken from them?
These questions will be answered in the succeeding chapters.