The President added, and his statements remained uncontradicted: 

The principal thing which had brought them to their present position was that to which they would not give attention.  It was not this or that thing which impeded their way, but they themselves stopped the way; and if they asked him what prevented the people from remaining obstruction, owing to the inherent incapacity and weakness of the people.  But whence this weakness?  Was it because they were deformed? because they were worse than other people? because they were too few and too insignificant to occupy the country?  Those arguments did not weigh with him.  They were not true; he did not consider them of any importance.  The people were as good as any other people, but they were completely demoralized; they had lost faith in God, reliance upon themselves, or trust in each other.  Hence he believed they were inherently weak.

* * * * * * *

He did not believe that a new constitution would save them; for as little as the old constitution had brought them to ruin, so little would a new constitution bring them salvation.

* * * * * * *

The Great Powers, with all their greatness, all their thousands of soldiers, would fall as quickly as this State had fallen, and even more quickly, if their citizens were to do what the citizens of this State had done; if the citizens of England had behaved towards the Crown as the burghers of this State had behaved to their Government, England would never have stood as long as she had, not even as long as this State had stood.  This State owed obligations to other countries; they knew that the fire which had nearly consumed this State would, if felt by them, very soon consume them also.

* * * * * * *

In several of the cities of Holland there were people who had subscribed for only one debenture, because they thought men of their own blood were living in South Africa.  What was the consequence?  The interest up to July last had been paid; in January of this year L2,250 was due for interest, and there was not a penny to meet it.

* * * * * * *

To take up arms and fight was nonsense; to draw the sword would be to draw the sword against God, for it was God’s judgment that the State was in the condition it was to-day; and it was their duty to inquire whether they should immerse in blood the thousands of innocent inhabitants of this country, and if so, what for?  For an idea—­for something they had in their heads, but not in their hearts; for an independence which was not prized.  Let them make the best of the situation, and get the best terms they possibly could; let them agree to join their hands to those of their brethren in the south, and then from the Cape to the Zambesi there would be one great people.  Yes, there was something grand in that—­grander even than their idea of a Republic—­something which ministered to their national feeling.  And would this be so miserable?  Yes; this would be miserable for those who would not be under the law, for the rebel and revolutionist, but welfare and prosperity for the men of law and order.