STEYN AND DE WET

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVI, Issue 8074, 19 March 1901, Page 1

STEYN AND DE WET

Ex-President Steyn, speaking on the Market Square, Klerks-dorp, lately, said : "Fighting is proceeding very successfully for the Republics, no matter what lies are published on the other side. So far the loss of the Republics has only been 1200 men. while the enemy's loss, according to their own statement, has been 41,000 or 52,000, and clearly the hand of the Almighty is 'distinctly visible in favor of the Republics. The capitalists, who are responsible for this war, will soon be on their knees and beg for peace. England and her troops are tired out, and will very soon sue for peace. The President has gome to Europe on his advice to awaken the dormant morality of the European nation's, and to bring home to them the dreadful atrocities committed by the English. Matters by no means stand badly, although they were lighting one against ten. 'Hie 'Republic musWand shall remain independent, and help will come. The warwill yeb continue for a long time, but courage must be kept up and success is sure to follow." De Wet confirmed everything President Stevn had .said. There to a great talk about him- all over the world, but a great many heroic deeds attributed to him were quite untrue. Some papers stated that he had a European education, and learnt strategy in Europe, and many other things equally untrue; the fact was that he was born and educated in the Free State, and that his education had been a very meagre one. It was reported in one paper that he was known driving nigs to HI is market m Bloemfontein, but this was not, correct, although he would not be ashamed of doing so if'th* pigs were his -own property. The fact -however, was that lie often dad drive pigs'to market by his servant, but he himself sold them. He would exhort his iheairers to change their Christian belief to "Love your neighbors, but hate the English.'' He was 'teaching this to his children., It was said that some good Englishmen were born, but they must all die voung. for he did not know .any. He only knew'of one good Englishman, who was a 'friend of his. They need not be afraid of the ultimate result; they must and would conquer, and drive the English out of .the country. The capitalists would come to these Republics, conquered or not; they were like pigs after pumpkins, and thus titer irould come after the gold to the Transvaal, and after diamond's to the Free State. . The English were after him 26,000 strong, and he only with 2000 men, but they 'could not catch him, and will never, succeed. It was reported that if lie were caught the war would be, at an end, but this was not so. as <he had arranged for a successor. Tire enemy has tried all in his power to bribe his people to deliver him up. but all in vain. The campaign is not lost by anv means. Should they be short of foodstuffs they will just go to the co. lony and get from their friends and sjm. •pathisers what they want, and « they wont give, well, then we will take what we want,, and give.a receipt for it, to be paid after the war./ (Laughter.)