If what theosophists say be true, that thoughts are living forces,
then it seems to me that the subtle power and influence of a national
maxim must be far-reaching and powerful in its effect on the national
mind.

Of this we had ample proof as the war proceeded.

With "Might is right" working ceaselessly in a hundred thousand
brains, some people in South Africa and England began to believe that
might _was_ right, and with "All is fair in love and war" held up by
the united force of a million minds, is it to be wondered at that
anything and everything seemed justified under martial law? And yet,
when we come to think of it, how pernicious and demoralising the
effect of such maxims must be on the public in general and the
uneducated mind in particular. Under its influence a nation may
become, in times of war, dishonourable and treacherous, may be dragged
from one abyss of degradation to another, deeper than the last, until
all self-respect is gone and the voice of conscience is silenced for
ever.

Well may we guard against this growing evil in South Africa! Well may
we keep our national mottoes pure!

I do believe that the Dutch South African saying, "Geduld en moed,
alles sal reg kom" ("Patience and courage, everything will right
itself"), is responsible to a great extent for the South African
indifference to duty. It was first spoken by President Brand, of the
Orange Free State, no doubt in all thoughtlessness of what it might
lead to, for no one could have foreseen that the first part, "Geduld
en moed," would fall into disuse and be forgotten, because these good
qualities do not come easily to men, and the second, "Alles sal reg
kom," would be made an excuse for a sort of lazy optimism, by which
anything could be justified which comes easiest to us at the moment.

"Alles sal reg kom," yes, but not if we shirk our responsibilities.
"Alles sal reg kom" if we are true, staunch, and honourable, if with
perseverance and patient endurance we fulfil our duty when its demands
upon us are most exacting and difficult.

Rightly interpreted, this popular saying would have been a strong
support to the Boers at a time when they were assailed by the fiercest
temptation, and this brings us to the subject with which this short
chapter deals.

We were frequently told during the war that it was Lord Kitchener's
policy to procure the services of as many members of the opposing
forces as could be persuaded, for material consider