President Steijn's Call to Arms, 11 October 1899
Ex Ray Leppan collection. A rare piece of ephemera, and possibly only extant example, from the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War. Single (intact, with centre fold), a large (60x20cm) document, dated 11th October, 1899, issued at Bloemfontein.
Milner made a demand upon President Steyn for a declaration of the attitude of the Orange Free State in view of the terms contained in the Transvaal despatch and the following courageous reply was forwarded to Cape Town from Bloemfontein, on the 11th of October: "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's telegram of this evening. The high-handed and unjustifiable policy and conduct of her Majesty's Government in interfering with and dictating in the purely internal affairs of the South African Republic, constituting a flagrant breach of the Convention of London accompanied at first by preparations for, and latterly followed by the active commencement of hostilities against that Republic, which no friendly and well-intentioned efforts on our side could induce her Majesty's Government to abandon, constitutes such an undoubted and unjust attack on the independence of the S. A. Republic that no other course is left to this State than honorably to abide by its Conventional engagement entered into with that Republic. On behalf of this Government, therefore, I beg to notify that, compelled thereto by the action of her Majesty's Government, they intend to carry out the instructions of the Volksraad as set forth in the last part of the resolution referred to by your Excellency."
At six o'clock the same evening the President of the Free State caused a "Gazette Extraordinary" to be issued, in which an impassioned appeal was published, calling upon its burghers to stand by their brethren across the Vaal in their hour of danger against "the oppressor and violator of justice." President Steyn further said: "In carrying on this struggle let no single action of yours be otherwise than such as becomes a Christian and a burgher of the Free State. Let us look forward with confidence to a successful issue to that struggle, trusting in a Higher Power, without whose support no human weapons avail anything. To the God of our forefathers we humbly submit the justice of our cause. May He protect the right, may He bless our arms. Under His banner do we draw the sword for freedom and for Fatherland."
On learning of the nature of England's reply to the last demand for arbitration, President Steyn telegraphed to Pretoria, "We are ready!"
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