A
period of about twenty-five years following the establishment of the Orange
Free State and Transvaal Republics was marked with much progress and
prosperity in the Cape Colonies and Natal, both Republics also having cause
to rejoice over similar advancement.
The evil influence which aimed at rending good relations between Boer and
English became more apparent after 1881. During the preceding era the two
races actually had been in a fair way towards friendly assimilation. Mutual
appreciation was further stimulated by the reciprocal benefits arising from
trade and economic relations. Intermarriages became more frequent under such
friendly intercourse, a respectable Englishman being truly prized in those
days as a Boer's son-in-law. The English language also largely advanced in
favour and prestige not only among the Cape Colonial and Natal Boers, but
also in both Republics, and anti-English sentiments were fast being
supplanted by amity and goodwill.
The principal event in the Orange Free State during that period was a three
years' exhaustive war with the Basuto nation, which ended in the latter's
defeat in 1867. Their chief Moshesh then appealed for British intervention.
The Basutos thus came under England's protection, and a peace resulted which
has ever since continued, through British prestige and authority as well as
good government. The Orange Free State gained a large tract of the territory
conquered by that State, but had to renounce the rest.
Then, in about 1870, came the discovery of the diamond-fields, situated on
the then still ill-defined western limits of the State. According to a
boundary line claimed by Great Britain, those diamond-fields fell outside
Free State territory. That State received £90,000 compensation for
improvements and expenses incurred during its short occupation of that
disputed strip of diamondiferous ground. The diamond-fields at Jagersfontein
and Koffyfontein were subsequently discovered and lie deep within the
confines of the State. President Brand had proved his sagacity and
discretion in concluding the negotiations with England upon the question of
the peace with the Basutos and then again in submitting to the boundary
delimitations, it being contended even yet that the Orange Free State had
the weightier arguments in its favour in both instances.
The people of that Republic proved however to be the ultimate gainers in
those adjustments; they did not miss the more solid advantages attending the
discovery of the diamond-fields. Believed of the grave responsibility
involved in governing a turbulent population of foreign diggers, the
geographical position of the Kimberley fields secured to the Free State
farmers an almost entire monopoly in the supply of products; trade also
flourished apace, all tending to enrich the inhabitants and the State
revenue as well.
But the Orange Free State derived a permanent advantage, quite unique and
more than compensating the apparent set-back suffered by the loss of the
diamond-field territory and by British intervention in the Basuto war
matter, in that the method of those procedures saddled England with the
responsibility of guaranteeing the internal safety of the State from those
hitherto unprotected borders "altogether at her own cost." The Keate award
completed the British cordon around the Free State, excepting only in regard
to the Transvaal frontier. No need thenceforth for costly military
provisions for the protection of the State—it was, as it were, walled and
fenced in at British expense, and the State revenue was thus for ever
relieved of a very heavy item of expenditure, which could be devoted to the
increase of the national wealth instead—a peaceful security accompanied with
an intrinsic gain constituting a veritable and permanent heirloom for the
people of that State.
It
is notable that the position of the Orange Free State, without any other
access to the sea-board than from colonial ports, made its status and
welfare entirely dependent upon the friendly and loyal good faith of
England. Up to the present unhappy war that State enjoyed unaltered the best
relations without being ever subjected to even a trace of chicanery from the
part of Great Britain.
By
what illusion, it may well be asked, could that hitherto friendly people
have been deluded to risk all in a disloyal breach with England by joining
the Transvaal in a "Bond" issue against her best friend? Towards the
Transvaal also had England proved her earnest desire to maintain an
intercourse on the basis of sincere amity, desirous only of reciprocity,
which indeed could be expected in willing return, seeing that England took
upon her own shoulders to provide for the protection and welfare of the
entire area of South Africa by sea and land, whilst both Republics freely
participated in all the great benefits so derived. These considerations
should substantially disprove the wicked aspersion lately made that British
policy aimed at the subversion of republican autonomy in those two States.
All that Great Britain needed and confidently expected in return for her
goodwill was friendly adhesion, and a willing recognition of her paramountcy
in matters affecting the common weal of South Africa as a whole, and also
such reciprocity and mutual concern in the welfare of all as consistently
comport with common interests. How fell and malignant the "influence" which
operated a treacherous ingratitude and hostility instead!
