42 THE TWENTY-FIRST WAR : IN THE TRANSVAAL. 



induce the English Government to restore them their Independence. 

 Whilst the Conservatives were in power the injustice was not 

 acknowledged, and as the authors of the Policy of Annexation, retro- 

 cession was impossible ; but in 1880 they read the speeches of Mr. 

 Gladstone, where he said : — 



" That the annexation of the Transvaal was dishonourable, and 

 should be repudiated," and throughout the Transvaal it was felt that 

 if Mr. Gladstone came into power, the hour of their deliverance was 

 at hand, and they calmly awaited the result. 



Unfortunately, high as the hopes of the Boers had been raised, 

 the more bitter was their disappointment when they found that the 

 advent of Mr. Gladstone to power in 1880 did not bring them nearer 

 the goal of Independence, for which they were prepared to sacrifice 

 their lives. 



In 1 88 1, stung by these falsified promises, they flew to arms, and 

 the ill-fated 94th Regiment was attacked and annihilated on its 

 march to Pretoria. 



Then followed Langs Nek and the disaster at Majuba Hill; the sub- 

 sequent" Conference at O'Neill's Farm, and the negotiations for peace, 

 by which the Transvaal regained their Independence ; a British 

 Resident at Pretoria was accepted, and the payment by the South 

 African Republic of a Debt of ;^ 100,000; which, far from being a 

 humiliation to England, reflect upon her the highest honour, and 

 especially on the righteous statesmanship of the Prime Minister of 

 England, who, in noble language, declared in effect — 



" That the honour of England does not require the putting down 

 of the rebellion first, in order afterwards to negotiate with the 

 Boers. 

 " The honour of the English nation demands that, without further 

 bloodshed, to expiate the wrong committed in 1877, she should 

 recognize the Independence of the Transvaal, and proclaim her 

 wish to live in friendship with a brave people, that has proved 

 itself worthy to be the pioneers of civilization against the 

 despotisms of Africa." 



