St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-07-12


to vote. In a country where there
are scores of young men doing moth
ing, glad of the excitement and adj
venture, it is suggested that call for
volunteers would be better move
than this compulsory measure of
communicating men. Among those
drafted from Pretoria, one German
has left the country, gone to Cape
Town, TO call upon his government
for prote ction. Some for conscience
sake have been let off; others declare
that they will make a bold stand 4;
that they have wives and children to
support; if they go, their business
and occupations will suffer that they
cannot afford to lose the little they
have gained, and that they do not
approve OF the war.
The righteousness or unrighteous-
ness of this attack remains to be
proved. The natives tell us Of fearful
tyrannies and extortion on the part
of the native commissioners, who are
unprincipled Dutchmen, and who
have been appropriating public funds
for their own use. The chief Mala-
toch has declared that his people
have been so badly treated by the
Beers about him, so robbed of cattle
and money that he had resolved to
resist to the death. Some declare
that Malatoch is expecting a great
and powerful chief named Magato
TO Join him and if this union takes
place great slaughter and opposi-
ton will ensue. Others believe that
the sight of the forces will lead Mala-
toch to speedy surrender, that he
will come to terms, and that in few
short weeks all this excitement will
subside. The papers on the side of
the government are very scOrnful
over the action of those who resist,
and the Dutch Synod now sitting has
estimated that it will have no fra
ternal union with the English minis
tiers who oppose the government.
held. the first one being in St. An
drew's Hall, under the Pretoria De-
batting Society. The Commando
Debate" was the subject posted up,
and such a crowd I never saw. Mr..
Gray took the chair, and managed
admirably to reduce the excited,
seething mob to an orderly, attentive
assembly while the debate went on.
There was much hot, excited talking,
and one Cornishman who had been
was eloquent beyond
my power of expression. He spoke
of his being an 'witlander," having
no vote, no influence, no power, Of
his wife and child, strangers in
strange land, and OF this being time
for action, and his spirit and plead
ing carried this child of the Puritans
back to the Boys of TO- and the
old days when Englishmen, who had
gone to America to live, turned
against the oppression Of George III.
and resolved to have their rights.
The next meeting was in the Caledo-
Man Hall and a "Witlander's De-
fence Society" was formed, and
means offered and pledges given in
one evening to the amount of $500
or $500 to support those who were
determined not to go. The two
Wesleyan ministers took an active
part, a strong position against the
existing law, and cablegram was
sent to England to crave protection
for English subjects in this country.
The British resident here SAYS be
is powerless to act, and that so far
as he knows, England does not pro-
tect her subjects abroad, if they are
drafted to service in foreign lands.
Just here and now, may ask what
is the position of the United States in
this matter? During the civil war
were there Germans, French or Eng
lish in the country, who, having no
vote, were ineligible for service And
were their stores entered and their
purses taxed Here there are GER
tain exceptions. Ministers, teachers,
officials and disabled people are let
off, but it is expected if the war con-
tinues that they will all be taxed
from 500 to $3.50, very soon.
On Wednesday afternoon, May %,
the commando were dra wn up in the
large square in front of the public
buildings, and after receiving their
rifles, So cartridges apiece, answering
to the roll call and being addressed
by the general of the forces and told
that South Africa expects every
man to do his duty" the comman-
deered forces galloped out to the
camp. The sight was very impress
sive and exciting. The huge square
was packed with vehicles OF all de-
scriptions, mounted men and women,
people on foot, in the balconies,
blacks, whites, old and young, over
5000 people being present. The ban
ner was presented and unfurled and
borne to the front, but alas! how
few saluted it warmly, Loyalty as the
flag they honored of the country
which was their pride Even the
burghers showed small warmth and
this seemed 20 me sad sign. The
crowded procession moved out to
the camp. They were motley set
of men, and in curious. garb. Some
had on the strong moleskin suits,
worn T1S11aliyy nv +Le Pna--- Il