They had indelibly inscribed their names on the scroll of the South African history of a half-century, and in doing so they had become as intimate as two brothers.  For more than two score years Kruger had been considered the Boers’ leader in peaceful times, while Joubert was the Boers’ warrior.  The ambition of both was the independence of their country, and, while they differed radically on the methods by which it was to be attained, neither surpassed the other in strenuous efforts to secure it without a recourse to war.  The death of Joubert was as saddening to Kruger, consequently, as the Demise of his most dearly-beloved brother could have been, and in the funeral-oration which the President delivered over the bier of the General, he expressed that sense of sorrow most aptly.  This oration, delivered upon an occasion when the country was mourning the death of a revered leader and struggling under the weight of recent defeats, was one of the most remarkable utterances ever made by a man at the head of a nation.

“Brothers, sisters, burghers, and friends,” he began,—­“Only a few words can I say to you to-day, for the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.  We have lost our brother, our friend, our Commandant-General.  I have lost my right hand, not of yesterday, but my right hand since we were boys together, many long years ago.  To-night I alone seem to have been spared of the old people of our cherished land, of the men who lived and struggled together for our country.  He has gone to heaven whilst fighting for liberty, which God has told us to defend; for the freedom for which he and I have struggled together for so many years, and so often, to maintain.  Brothers, what shall I say to you in this our greatest day of sorrow, in this hour of national gloom?  The struggle we are engaged in is for the principles of justice and righteousness, which our Lord Has taught us is the broad road to heaven and blessedness.  It is our sacred duty to keep on that path, if we desire a happy ending.  Our dear dead brother has gone on that road to his eternal life.  What can I say of his personality?  It is only a few short weeks ago that I saw him at the fighting front, humbly and modestly taking his share of the privations and the rough work of the campaign like the poorest burgher, a true general, a true Christian—­an example to his people.  And he spoke to me then and even more recently; and, let me tell you, that the days are dark.  We are suffering reverses on account of wickedness rampant in our land.  No success will come, no blessings be given to our great cause unless you remove the bad elements from among us; and then you may look forward to attaining the crowning point, the reward of righteousness and noble demeanour.  We have in our distinguished departed brother an example.  Chosen, as he was, by the nation, time after time, to his honourable position, he had their trust to such an extent that everything was left in his hands; and he did his work