The Irish standard., 1899-12-23
'E'SV'
GEORGE w. VAN SICLEN,
I1I Broadway. New York Civ
An Appeal to the people.

GEORGE w. VAN SICLEN,
al Broadway, New York City.
An Appeal to the people.
Dear Countrymcn--It is in accord
ancc with a resolution, unanimously
adopted at meeting OF Airicandcr and
Bond Members OF Parliament, that we
address you as follows
Notwithstanding the most strenuous
efforts made by our clcreymcn, our min
listers, our party in Parliament, our
Bond branches, and OUR women, by
means Of respectful petitions, public
meetings, and by other means to pre-
serve the invaluable blessings OF peace
for South Africa, the mucll-drcadcd war
has virtually broken out.
Her Majcsty's forces will soon be in
volvcd in bloody war with the burgh-
crs OF the Transvaal and the Free State,
who are one with us in religion, Ian
guagc, and descent.
There arc but few Colonial Airicand-
ers who are not bound to the Inhabitants
OF both Republics by ties OF relation
ship, intimacy or friendship. This
makes war still more painful to you and
us, and much more calamitous to South
Africa than it would otherwise be-
1t is not our object to inquire to
whom all this misery and calamity
which await Our country owing TO the
existing circumstances, are due
Enough acrimony exists without such
inquiry. Much more does it bcft us to
yield TO the overpowering impulse which
fills the heart Of our people with a de-
sire to do sonnet ?hing in aid OF our llins-
men and friends beyond the Orange and
Vaal rivers, by giving it an opportunity
to express itself in some legitimate
manner in work and deed
What may, what can, we Colonial
Africandcrs do in this sorrowful time?
Join in the work OF warfare with the
weapons? The law and our duty as
British subjects forbid this, even should
other circumstances not oppose such a
course OF action.
But what neither the law nor the duty
OF the subject forbids, and what, more
over, agrees in every respect with all
principles OF religion and humanity, is
the offering Of help to the wounded, to
the widows and the orphans.
II you arc in earnest in your express
sions OF sympathy with your brothers
and sisters in those parts, you will make
sacrifices in favor OF those men who
will be wounded or mutilatcd on the
field OF battle, and for the sake OF those
wives and children who will be robbed
OF their only support in life by sword
or bullet.
With that object in view we cntreat
you TO subscribe to the appended list,
and to do so with unstintcd liberality.
When the war is concluded there will
be hundreds, perhaps thousands, OF
widows and orphans left quite unpro-
vidcd for. 1t is chiefly on their behalf
that Our party in Parliament appeal to
you. Large sums of money will be
needed TO provide them, even to slight
extent, with the ncccssaries OF life.
Let each one, therefore, contribute,
and not only a trinc, as if it were for an
ordinary matter, but to the utmost OF
his or her means; even though he or
she should have to deny himself or her
self some pleasure or other for a long
time 10 come.
Provision will be made to prevent
the abuse OF your donations.
Mr.. c. c. dc Villcrs has kindly un-
dcrtaken the duties OF Hon. treasurer OF
the committee.
Give literally and speedily. Open
subscription lists in each district Field
cornetcy, and appoint collectors to call
upon each inhabitant to solicit contr-
buttons, SO that no person be omitted.
Convinced that we have not appealed
to you in vain, and trusting that all all
wise Providence may see fit speedily to
terminate the calamity OF war in South
Africa, we subscribe ourselves with due
respect your obcdient servants,
N. F. DE WAL, M. L. A.
JOS. N. HOFFMAN, M. L. A.
J. II. HOFMEYR.
THOS. P. THERON, M. L. A.
D. ]. A. VAN ZYL, M. L. A.
Cape Town, October 10, 1899.
Subscriptions for the above will be
received at the office of The Irish Stand