The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-25
The Pro-Boer Sentiment.

IT is perfectly clear that in the strug-
gle now taking place between Eng
land and the Beers the sympathies
of continental Europe are almost en-
tirely with the South African Dutch.
This is true Of all classes from the high
est nobility and statesmen down to the
humblest of the peasantry.
There are various reasons for this.
Among the nobility and statesmen
there is an intense jealousy of Eng
lands power and prestige, coupled with
a feeling that in many cases she has
been unnecessarily arrogant and
threatening in her dealings with other
countries. The military classes dislike
her because her insular position and
naval strength give her security
at home, and enable her to laugh at the
great military organizations of the con-
tinental powers.
Those engaged in business are en-
vious of her commercial supremacy, be-
lieving that in large degree 1t has been
uniustly acquired at the exp nse OF
others. Among the masses of tn COM
mon people sentimentality is the great
factor which chiefly dominates, and
they deeply synpathize with the Beers,
some through racial affinities, and some
merely through that feeling which leads
the average man to favor what he
deems to be the weaker party in
fight.
But beyond all Of these considerations
bn
there is also strong feeling that the
Beers are actually right in their con-
tentions, and that England is endeavor-
ing to enrich herself and extend her
colonial empire by crushing weak,
people in whose country there are vast
deposits of gold.
In the United States there Is sub
stantial division of sentiment. Except
ing those who are closely allied to Eng
land by birth, the foreign born popu-
1ation of the country is almost sol'dly
In favor of the Beers. The main di-
vision is among those of native birth
and SO far removed from their Euro
pean ancestry as to be entirely free
from any race feeling in the matter.
Those who favor England do so for
various reasons. and the same is true
of those whose sympathies run in the
direction of the South African repub-
lie. It is observable, though, that the
feeling in favor of the Beers is very
much more pronounced than that
which leans to England. This is true
both of the native and foreign born
/ citizens, and the cause of it is not
| hard to find.
Some who favor England do SO be-
cause they have a vague idea that she
was our friend during the Spanish war,
and others have an equally vague no.
, ton that the foreigners in the Trans
vaal are badly treated and that Eng
land is right in redressing their grieV-
! ances.
Neither Of these considerations is cal
! culated to give rise to a very strong
, feeling. Every man with a spark Of
fairness in his nature must concede
that the fact Of England favoring us
in the Spanish war does not and can
| not have any bearing upon the merits
of the Transvaal imbroglio. Those mer-
! its depend upon the facts. II England
is wrong, no American is justified In
| defending her merely because she was
our friend in a case where we clearly
were right. Her friendship at the time
mentioned was nothing comparable to
that of France during our revolution,
and yet in the F'ranco-Prussian war