Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-11-24
THE BOER WAR.


The Beers are the Dutch farmers
who settled in Cape Colony, South
Africa about the year 1862. The
word "boer," is the Dutch for farmer.
hence the name by which these peo-
pie are now known. In 1903, war
was declared between Holland and
Great Britain. BY the treaty of
peace n 1902 Cape Colony was ced-I
ed back to Holland. In 1905 war
again broke out between Great Brit
ain and Holland and Cape Colony
was placed under an English COVER
nor who was very unpopular with the
beers, who became much embittered
towards England on account of their
treatment. The oppression of these
people was such that in 1886, thous-
ands of them abandoned their farms
and taking their household goods
with them, sought another home IN
the wilderness, North of Cape Colony.
They crossed the river Vaal, which
was the Northern limit of Cape Col
onv and the land which they occu-
pied. across the Naal, is now known
as the Transv?al. They organized a
republican form of government and
in 1852, Great Britain acknowledged
the independence of the Transvaal
Republic. Later the British govern
ment assisted the Beers in a war with
the savage natives and from that time
las claimed to possess the rights Of
suzarainry over the Transvaal repnb-
lie. This resulted in war between
Great Britain and the Beers in 1880.
In 1881, at the battle of Najuba Hill
considerable force of English we're
defeated and almost annihilated by
the Beers. The result Of this war, ii
| as generally been believed, res ored
independence o the Tr;nsyaal 4 pub
lie. From that time, The goth OF
February has been annually Gel brat
ed as independence day. In 1869,
diamonds were discovered along the
river Wal and few years later very
rich gold mines in thsterritory of the
Transvaal Republic. An idea OF the
richness of their gold fields can be
formed by the fact that the product
ofthe present year was expected to
be SlOO,OOO,OOO. 1t j, estimated
that S5OO,OOO,OOO worth of gold has
been mined and there is yet $4,000,
100000 to be dug out.
These discoveries brought into
Transvaal territory thousands of for
vigners most of whom were English.
The government imposed tax upon
these foreigners, called uitlander',
which IS said TO be no heavier than
the tax imposed by the Canadian gov
eminent upon the Klondike gold
miners. The foreigners objected to
this tax and to the laws relative to
citizenship and appealed to the Eng
lish government for assistance. Eng
lsnd demanded a change Of laws
which the Beers refused to make,
hence the war.
A powerful nation does not long
hesitate TO wage war against a weak
nation possessed of so great wealth.
The Beers are fighting for liberty
and their homes. There was Q day
when their cause would have received
the heartfelt sympathy of the Amer
lean people. Times have changed
and we have changed with them.
The love of liberty and the sympathy
will those who are fighting for home
and liberty were once characteresticA
ofthe American people, but now they,
embsed with the impelialistlc idea,
of the present administration, regard
such sentiments as evidence of a
reasonable disposition. Our unjusti-
fable war with the Filipinos has
placed us IN sympathy with any mo-
government that seeks en-
pire by making war upon weaker
nations. The grandiloquent Fourth
of July orations, and hymns praising
God for this great land ofliberty all
seem out OF place, when we ask
Justice loving God to bless our arms
engaged in the effort 10 subdue
gallant people who are fighting for
what our fathers fought in l776.