and engine, the now well-known “Afrikaner Bond Association,” with its significant motto of “Afrika voor Afrikaners"[1]—­its object being no less than the eviction of all that is English from South Africa, and to substitute a federation of all South African States into one free and independent Republic, the affiliation to be with Holland instead, and Dutch the common and official language, other nations, in return for afforded aid, to participate in the trade and other advantages wrested from England.

I only regret that my ability falls so much short for the task of demonstrating all this in an approved style—­for doing justice to the subject.  Its investigation embraces a wider range of details to serve as evidence than may, upon first thought, be held as relevant; but I believe that a willing study will show their connection as serviceable for arriving at an independent and unhesitating verdict.

A very strong and convincing case is indeed needed for remodelling opinions where there is preconceived Boer partisanship, and where party spirit or else foreign jealousy have already warped judgment and established bias.

It would be no small relief to every honest-minded person, especially in England, to be clear upon the subject that England is free of guilt—­equally so to the soldier who is called upon to fight her battles.  But other objects of no less importance are in view, viz., to open the eyes of the misguided Boer people to the wicked artifices by which it has been seduced from friendly relations with England into an unjustifiable war, to deter the still wavering portion from joining the ranks of sedition, and, lastly, the grounds for palliation being recognised, to pave the way to an early termination of the war by adjustments which could restore mutual goodwill and respect between the contending parties, and so bring about a speedy return of South African prosperity and progress.

The writer is fully prepared to give data and names of the incidents adduced in this paper in support of their authenticity.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 1:  Africa for white African citizens.]

CURSORY HISTORY OF THE BOER NATION

The two principal elements of the Boer nation were the settlers of the Dutch trading company at the Cape of Good Hope, sturdy farmers and tradesmen belonging to the proletarian class of Holland, and a subsequent contingent of French Huguenot refugees and their families who joined as colonists soon after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.  I mention below the names still existing which form a large proportion of the present Boer nation of Huguenot descent:—­

Billion Blignaut Bisseux Delporte
Du prez Du Toit De la Bey Durand
Davel De Langue Duvenage Fourie
Fouche Grove Hugo Jourdan
Lombard Le Roux Roux Lagrange
Labuscaque Mare Marais Malan
Malraison Maynard Malherbe De Meillon
De Marillac Matthee Naude Nortier
Rousseau Taillard Theron Terblanche
De Villiers Fortier Lindeque Vervier
Vercueil Basson Pinard Duvenage
Celliers de Clercq Leclercq Devinare