St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-03-18
The Beers.

ne eAulOlllOu nduc bN Tue OIdHSS
Free State at Philadelphia in 1876 at
tracted much attention. Many visitors
to the exposition there learned for the
fist time of the existence of flourish
ing settlement of Dutch farmers in
South Africa. 1t is, in fact, an old set
tlemeut, dating from the early part OF
the 18th century. 1t had grown rapidly
while the Netherlands were ruling
maritime power, but during the 18th
century the adventurous spirit of the
Dutch cOlOnists died away, and as the
influx of fresh elements from Europe
diminished, the original settlers on the
Cape developed a character peculiar to
themselves, of mingled deliberation and
recklessness. In 1914 the colony was
transferred to Great Britain. but the
Beers have maintained a secret but
constant opposition against all efforts
to Anglicise their colony. After re-
peated wars with Great Britain large
number of them migrated to the north
and founded the Transvaal republic,
and in 1854 the Orange river country
was relinquished to the Beers, who or
ganized a democratic government and
were recognized as free and indepen-
dent state. Since that time these two
republics have gained rapidly in wealth
and power. But the old thirst for en-
pire has led Great Britain to attempt
to compel the people of Transvaal re-
public to acknowledge her authority,
and four years ago when its affairs were
in a bad way the flag of the republic
was pulled down and the English stand
ard set up in its stead. The Beers sub
mitted with much muImuring to thin
invasion, and soon afterwards the at
tempt of a British officer to arrest ceT-
tain of the Beers who had declined to
pay taxes, brought about a conflict,
and it is to punish this refractory peo-
pie for their INSTRUMENTATION that the
English have carried on the fight, thus
far, with almost constant disaster to
themselves. A letter written soon af-
ter the war began says, elders of the
church have been passing from settle
ment to settlement, calling the farmers
to arms and bidding them spare not
Their wives have been upbraiding them
with the heritage of shame they were
| handing down to their children. They
| have been reminded of their ancestors
virtues. They are excellent marksmen
are armed with the most approved
weapons, and their methods of warfare
are not only adapted to the country,
but are peculiarly harassing to the enc
my" The recent battle in which Sil
George Colley lost his life was one OF
the most remarkable on record. A
force of Beers, inferior in number drove
the British from the top of a high hill
to which they had climbed in the night
1t was a heroic action which weulC
seem incredible without the testimony
of the beaten party. These Dutchmer
have again vindicated their honor anC
their right to independence and liberty
And it cannot fail to impress all til,
friends of freedom in this country as {
gross wrong to civilization, that an in
satiate power of dominion should per
sist in the cruel purpose to crush Ou
these people who have, as was shown
at Philadelphia, all the elements need
ed as a basis for an Independent nation
al existence. The Beers are energetic
religious and progressive, and have th
capacity to develop in that distant re
gion a high civilization which will sOOl
extend its influence north, into tn
great Basuto land, and thence into Cen
trail Africa, which has recently becom,
known, in part to the world, throug
the explorations of Livingstone an,
, Stanley.
1t cannot be worth to Great Britai
all the blood and treasure it will cost t
crush such people, and in the interes
of civilization and humanity we hop
that better counsels will prevail, s.
that England will not continue to ex
hibit herself before the world in tn
shameful light of attempting to wip
away the disgrace of past mistakes b
adding still more to the original wrong
st. AlbdRs Messenger.