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broken by a stroke from the hand of gold； when I see freedom passing from
us； and the whole land being grasped by the golden claw； so that the
generation after us shall be born without freedom； to labour for the men
who have grasped all； shall I hold my peace？ The Boer and the Englishman
who have been in this land； have not always loved mercy； nor have they
always sought after justice； but the little finger of the speculator and
monopolist who are devouring this land will be thicker on the backs of the
children of this land； black and white； than the loins of the Dutchmen and
Englishmen who have been。'
〃And she said； 'I have heard it said that it was our duty to sacrifice
ourselves for the men and women living in the world at the same time as
ourselves； but I never before heard that we had to sacrifice ourselves for
people that are not born。 What are they to you？ You will be dust； and
lying in your grave； before that time comes。 If you believe in God；' she
said； 'why cannot you leave it to Him to bring good out of all this evil？
Does He need YOU to be made a martyr of？ or will the world be lost without
YOU？'
〃He said； 'Wife； if my right hand be in a fire； shall I not pull it out？
Shall I say； 'God may bring good out of this evil；' and let it burn？ That
Unknown that lies beyond us we know of no otherwise than through its
manifestation in our own hearts； it works no otherwise upon the sons of men
than through man。 And shall I feel no bond binding me to the men to come；
and desire no good or beauty for themI； who am what I am； and enjoy what
I enjoy； because for countless ages in the past men have lived and
laboured； who lived not for themselves alone； and counted no costs？ Would
the great statue； the great poem； the great reform ever be accomplished； if
men counted the cost and created for their own lives alone？ And no man
liveth to himself； and no man dieth to himself。 You cannot tell me not to
love the men who shall be after me； a soft voice within me； I know not
what； cries out ever； 'Live for them as for your own children。' When in
the circle of my own small life all is dark； and I despair； hope springs up
in me when I remember that something nobler and fairer may spring up in the
spot where I now stand。'
〃And she said； 'You want to put everyone against us！ The other women will
not call on me； and our church is more and more made up of poor people。
Money holds by money。 If your congregation were Dutchmen； I know you would
be always preaching to love the Englishmen； and be kind to niggers。 If
they were Kaffirs you would always be telling them to help white men。 You
will never be on the side of the people who can do anything for us！ You
know the offer we had from'
〃And he said； 'Oh my wife； what are the Boer； and the Russian； and the Turk
to me； am I responsible for their action？ It is my own nation； mine； which
I love as a man loves his own soul； whose acts touch me。 I would that
wherever our flag was planted the feeble or oppressed peoples of earth
might gather under it； saying； 'Under this banner is freedom and justice
which knows no race or colour。' I wish that on our banner were blazoned in
large letters 〃Justice and Mercy〃； and that in every new land which our
feet touch； every son among us might see ever blazoned above his head that
banner； and below it the great order：〃By this sign； Conquer！〃and that
the pirate flag which some men now wave in its place； may be torn down and
furled for ever！ Shall I condone the action of some； simply because they
happen to be of my own race； when in Bushman or Hottentot I would condemn
it？ Shall men belonging to one of the mightiest races of earth； creep
softly on their bellies； to attack an unwarned neighbour； when even the
Kaffir has again and again given notice of war； saying； 'Be ready； on such
and such a day I come to fight you？' Is England's power so broken； and our
race so enfeebled； that we dare no longer to proclaim war； but must creep
silently upon our bellies in the dark to stab； like a subject people to
whom no other course is open？ These men are English； but not English…MEN。
When the men of our race fight； they go to war with a blazoned flag and the
loud trumpet before them。 It is because I am an Englishman that these
things crush me。 Better that ten thousand of us should lie dead and
defeated on one battlefield； fighting for some great cause； and my own sons
among them； than that those twelve poor boys should have fallen at
Doornkop； fighting to fill up the pockets of those already oe'r…heavy with
gold。'
〃And she said； 'YOU； what does it matter what you feel or think； YOU will
never be able to do anything！'
〃And he said； 'Oh my wife； stand by me； do not crush me。 For me in this
matter there is no path but one on which light shines。'
〃And she said； 'You are very unkind； you don't care what the people say
about us！' and she wept bitterly； and went out of the room。 But as soon as
the door was shut； she dried her tears； and she said to herself； 'Now he
will never dare to preach such a sermon again。 He dares never oppose me
when once I have set down my foot。'
〃And the man spoke to no one； and went out alone in the veld。 All the
afternoon he walked up and down among the sand and low bushes； and I walked
there beside him。
〃And when the evening came； he went back to his chapel。 Many were absent；
but the elders sat in their places； and his wife also was there。 And the
light shone on the empty benches。 And when the time came he opened the old
book of the Jews； and he turned the leaves and read：'If thou forbear to
deliver them that are drawn unto death； and those that are ready to be
slain； if thou sayest； 'Behold we knew it not！' Doth not he that pondereth
the heart consider it？ and he that keepeth thy soul； doth he not know it？'
〃And he said； 'This morning we considered the evils this land is suffering
under at the hands of men whose aim is the attainment of wealth and power。
Tonight we shall look at our own share in the matter。 I think we shall
realise that with us； and not with the men we have lifted up on high； lies
the condemnation。' Then his wife rose and went out； and others followed
her； and the little man's voice rolled among the empty benches； but he
spoke on。
〃And when the service was over he went out。 No elder came to the porch to
greet him； but as he stood there one； he saw not whom； slipped a leaflet
into his hand。 He held it up； and read in the lamplight what was written
on it in pencil。 He crushed it up in his hand； as a man crushes that which
has run a poisonous sting into him； then he dropped it on the earth as a
man drops that he would forget。 A fine drizzly rain was falling； and he
walked up the street with his arms folded behind him； and his head bent。
The people walked up the other side； and it seemed to him he was alone。
But I walked behind him。〃
〃And then；〃 asked Peter； see