The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-14
An Appeal For the Beers By Senator
Mason, Of Illinois,

1--WE Republicans are charged with
having entered into an alliance with
Great Britain, said Senator Mason.
in the Senate yesterday. 1 do not be-
lieye it. but we have an opportunity to
prove that it is not true by voting for
this resolution.
This was the keynote Of Mr. Ma
son s speech advocating the passage OF
his resolution expressing American
sympathy for the Beers. He spoke for
an hour and twenty minutes, during
which time he was not interrupted,
and he was listened to with close at
tention by his fellow Senators and by
a large gallery OF auditors. His speech,
tia first formal address Of the session.
was the feature Of the Senate proceed
ings yesterday. At its conclusion, the
resolution, on motion Of Mr.. Lodge,
who siid the matter was toe. delicate TO
be decided without careful considera.
ton. WAS referred TO the Committee on
Foreign Relations. The present pro.
gramme Of the Republicans is to let
it die in that committee.
Mr. MAson's appeal was at times We
hement and almost passionate, but as
he couhned himself nearly exclusively
to his carefully prepared manuscript, 1t
lacked the characteristic force Of de.
liyerance which attaches TO the Sena-
tors extemporsneous efforts In open
ing he said:
The war between monarchy and
repuhlicanism began in earnest July
4. l77G and no treaty Of peace has ever
been concluded, nor ever will be. until
the question is settled right The
monarchical trust company. though
often quarreling among themselves,
have always agreed to one thing-that
republic is a mistake.
GREAT BRITAIN's FRIENDSHIP.
After quoting extensively from
Daniel Websters speeches in support OF
his position. Mr.. Mason continued
bat we are told that England was
our best friend in the war with Spain.
How? Her people were our friends be.
cause her people are Christian people;
her government has never been our
friend except for purposes OF its own.
have no desire to twist the lions
tail, but truth compels the statement,
so far as our interests are concerned for
the last half century the government
of England and the people OF England
have been divided. You remember
1861? The government did all it
could TO divide the Union. but the
brave. starving weavers refused to re-
solve against US, saying they would
starve before they would say q word
for slavery. But even suppose she were
today our best friend, are we to be 81
lent and uphold a wrong in considera-
ton of that friendship? We Repuoli.
cans are charged with secret ALI
ance with England. 1t cannot be true.
and the vote which this or a similar
resolution receives will answer the
charge.
"Mr. Mason maintained that, under
the Monroe doctrine and precedents
previously we'll ESTABLISHED, the United
States had the same right to extend its
sympathy and hopes for success TO the
Beers in their struggle for liberty as Ii
had to interfere with Spain in its con-
duct Of affairs In Cuba.
BETWEEN DEM oCRACY AND ROYALTY
He urged that the interest Of this
country was aroused By the fact that
the South African war was struggle
between democracy and royalty-be-
tween the divine rights Of Kings and
the divine right Of man.
IF we should speak, he declared,
and speak quickly. it would sting the
politicians who brought on the war for
greed Of gold. aud cheer the poor,
brave Dutch defender Of his home
"Mr. Mason commended that the
question involved in 1.-THE controversy
between Great Britain and the Traus-
vaal, prior TO hostilities. was simply
one of supremacy In South Africa
And I ask. said he, in common JUS
tice. what right has Great Britain to
be supreme in South African"
1t is a fight TO control South Africa,
and the only way England could do 1t
was to threaten, bulldoze, browbsat.
and interfere with the Dutchmsu IN
ell out Of sheer humiliation aud dss-
D ration, he was driven to fight.
Referring to Mr.. Chamberlain. Mr..
Mason said: LIT the distinguished
Lilliputian statesman rattle around
in Gladstone's shoes. trying to Judo his
work and break his promises, be assured
that he Is dec ewing no one except. pos
sibly. himself.
SHOULD HELP ALL REPUBLICS
lie declar ed that no nation, except q
professed bully, would make the
demands upon another that Great Brit
ain made upon the Transvaal republic,
and in closing said
IL have not sought to excite preiu'
dice by our past differences with Eng'
land. They are forgotten and forgiven.
But when the colOrs Of Republic are
struck and we sit silent, IL would seem
that we are ashamed or tired Of our In.
situations. and by our silence give con.
sent to the destruction Of self govern.
ment In Africa. The Statue Of Liber-
ty Enlightening the World Ia New
| XnrL harhor La nathan n naufh hokinn