But if we wish to know and realise Mr Kruger thoroughly, we should pay
attention to his last election address, issued about a week ago. He
says: "As I have before told you, I aim, as instructed by the
Scriptures, at justice and righteousness to all men--to by down on our
political territory the eternal principles of God as the foundation of
our State. The taking to heart of the lessons of that Word enables us
to be certain under all our difficulties. These lead us to a
recognition of our absolute dependence, not on the great ones and power
holders of the world, but upon Him who sent that Word to us."
"Burghers and fellow-countrymen, the times are such that a wise and
judicious development of our sources of aid requires the most earnest
consideration. Therefore these must be protected and advanced, and
while we lend a helping hand to the mining industry we must not lose
sight of the agriculture and cattle farming, so that prosperity and
progress may be brought to the doors, not of some only, but of all.
That will be my earnest endeavour. Many of you have sustained almost
irreparable losses through rinderpest, and you know what has been done
in order to help you to tide over these hard times. I desire to proceed
in this direction everywhere that such assistance may be required, to
the end that many of the very pith of the people, at present bowed under
the yoke of adversity and misery, may be helped and heartened by the
strengthening of the feeble knees."
I do not think I need quote any more. As will be seen by the first
paragraph, Mr Kruger takes the Scriptures as his guide in matters of
policy, and, as he considers the Boers to be the chosen people, we may
infer what the miserable Canaanites who dwell along the Raad may expect
from the course adopted by Joshua towards their ancient prototypes. The
second paragraph is more secular, but the policy of Mr Kruger is just
as distinctly indicated. The "very pith of the people," the Boers, must
be helped and heartened by the strengthening of the feeble knees, which
means money must be taken from those who did not suffer in their flocks
and herds, viz., the miners, and distributed amongst those that
sustained almost "irreparable loss through rinderpest."