The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-03
FRIENDS OF THE BoERS
MEMBERS OF NEW YORK's HOLLAND
SOCIETY WANT PEACE.
Adopt a Resolution of sympathy
and Appeal to Mckinley to Use
His Good Offices.

NEW YORK. Oct. "A special meeting or
the Holland Society of New York was held
tonight at Delmonico's for the purpose OF
discussing the Transvaal question In a
speech President Bergen said: There Is
now a general quarrel between two OF our
friends. One is a powerful empire, the other
a little republic. Men who are kin In blood
and religion are about 10 face each other
in the field Of battle. What shall MS So
ciety do? Shall we take sides or be silent!'
Former Judge Van Hoesen then read res
olutions expressing sympathy with the
Transvaal, and calling on the United states
government to take some action in the mat
ter. A debate followed.
Robert b. Roosevelt said: "It is quite GER
tain that our government will take no ac-
ton in any way. In my opinion 1t ought
not. At present. too. we are under certain
obligations to the British government"
"How's that? How so? What do you
mean?" and several similar interruptions
came from all over the room.
These two nations he continued. unit
ed can police the world" Mr.. Van
Wyck was sitting next to Mr.. Roosevelt
and he started up with a demand for facts
and facts only. Well said Mr.. Roosevelt,
last year every nation in Europe but one
was unfriendly to us and / think 1t only
fair to deduce that that one was friendly
Mr.. Roosevelt proposed an amendment to
the resolution expressing hope that a peace
might be maintained honorably to both
countries. Former Justice Augustus Van
Wyck spoke in favor of the passing of
strong resolutions. Several amendments had
been suggested to the proposed resolutions,
but all included some reference to the an
ceStry OF members OF the society.
Ex-Judge Van Wyck objected to TINS
feature, and said that, as far as as ne could
resolutions agreed was In a bold announce
ment to the world that they were descended
from burghers who came here prior to 1919;
towards never won liberty nor preserved
it," declared ex-Judge Van Wyck. Il have
never been able. for my part. to- understand
what the grievances of the English were In
the Transvaal anyhow, except. perhaps,
that they wanted the gold mines: III the
richest gold mines in the world had not
been discovered there | don't imagine that
try" Ex-Judge Van Wyck die not believe
in being too timid in calling upon our gov
eminent to do the proper and humane thing
and he favored resolutions calling on the
President to exercise his friendly offices to
prevent war.
The various conciliatory amendments pro-
standing vote of 60 to as, the original reso-
lutions offered by Judge Van Hoesen were
passed. The principal resolution follows:
Resolved. That the Holland Society of
New York, composed exclusively of de-
%scendants Of Dutch burghers resident in the
colony of New Netherland before 1765. SYM
pathizing with the Beers Of the South Afri-
can republic in their struggle for the
maintenance of their independence and au-
tonomy, earnestly appeal to the government
of the United States to use it's good Offices
with the government of Great Britain. for
the preservation of peace between England
and the Transvaal and for the settlement
of the points In dispute between these two
nations In. a manner that will save to the
South African republic the rights guaran-
teed to IT by the convention Of 1884"
1t was decided that the society shall take
Cooper Union on Oct. 9. Bourke Cochran
and other prominent orators will speak at
this meeting.