New-York tribune., 1881-03-25
THE CONDITION OF TIE BOERS.

THEIR RELATION TO THIS COUNTRY.
ADDRESSES AT A MEETING AT COOPER UNIoN-THE
CONDITIONS OF PEACE DEHoUNCED-How THEY
WILL AFFECT TnE UNITED STATES.
Cooper Union was halt filled Wednesday evening
with sympathizers Of the Iransvaal Beers who had
assembled to hear speeches by Henry Ward Beecher.
the Rev. DIR. Colyor and other prominent men on
the recent struggle in South Africa Among those
present were General Martin I. MacMahon, ex-
Judge Munger, the Rev. A. II. Bechthold. pastor Of
the Eleventh Street Dutch Reformed Church. Wm.B.
Clark and Captain Lorraine White. At few min
utes past 8, the Rev. Mr.. Bechthold, as chairman
of the meeting introduced VIM. L. Carbin, secretary
of the Committee of Arrangements. Mr.. Corbn,
who 10 Hollander. explained in a rather agitated
voice that owing to a misunderstanding most of the
speakers announced would not appear. He said that
a notice pOstponing the meeting had been sent to
these speakers and TO the vicepresidens Wednesday
morning, and hal been inserted in the evening
papers by James Gerard, chairman of the commit
tee, who had used his (Carbin'sl name without any
authority whatever This was the cause OF the light
attendance ut the meeting and of the absence Of the
MI carbtn then announced that until
Mr.. Beechers arrival he would entertain his
hearers with q short account Of the trouble
between the Roers and the British. He began with
the irst emigration of the Dutch settlers IN 1852
and traced the history of the people until the out
break of the war of Independence last December.
Although the speakers manner was nervous and his
accent foreign, be quickly won che general atten-
ton, and many times his voice was drowned IN the
applause. In the course of his remarks be said:
We are forced 10 conclude om the latest teleErams
that the Beers about 10 succumb to English trckery
trcaehery Yes they have everything TO fear from
Eugsh tcmporizatbJn and English promises What does
Il that they to be independently subject TO the
report Of Royal C0mmissiont What does the SOW
efegnty OF the Queen mean Il means that the ont
ward, the foreign relations Of the Republic,
are TO DC controlled by tho British Cape
Government Now declare that this arrangement 10
an indirect blow az the United States And whyi Be-
cause prevents the B0ers from trading with any other
nations except England, and consequently prevents
American merchants from deriving ANY profit from the
on0rnious natural and mineral wealth OF the Transyaa
IA wealth which the Centennial exhibition first dis
closed 10 this country. AS most people
now know, tho Transyaal was really an
nexed because its President Francis Burgers oontem
plated building railroad from Pretoria 70 the Portu
glese settlement aE Delaeoa Bay. Had this plan been
executed Tranevaal goods would have been exported at
the low Portuguese rates OF duty instead or beng sub
tected TO the exerbitant Eatalan protective tariH
duties. a. had hitherto been The
II the ecVeregnty of the Queen maintained the
Republic the railroad viii never be Constructed, and
America will be able 70 import the valuable prod
uets OF Transyeel coll or sell her own goods 70 the
Beers. This 80 O question IN which American working
elasses have much involved. And word from the
Federal 0oyernmest would perhaps suffice 70 change
thts conditionoi talags
In concluding tle speaker referred TO proposition
thaf had been made 70 start bcent subscription 10