The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-28
HIGH SCHOOL DEBATE.
The Transvaal Difficulty Discussed
by the Students.

A meeting of the literary society OF
the Scranton High school was held yes
terday at the close of the session. Mr.
F'rier, of the Junior class, was chair
man of the meeting. A very interest
ing programme was rendered, and the
pupils who attended were very much
pleased Miss Matte Hughes recited
THE Dashing Ride of Jennie McNeap'
in very charming manner.
The subject of the debate which fol-
lowed was Resolved, That England's S
policy in the Transvaal is right"
The first speaker for the affirmative
was Mr.. Litstone, of the Junior class.
He opened his discussion with a brief
history Of the Beers, and the begin
ming of the early troubles in the Trans
vaal. He mentioned North Carolina as
having no right to secede from the
Union, and the fact that the North pre-
vented them from doing so. This, he
said, Is exactly the same as England
is endeavoring to do in the Transvaal.
Throughout his entire discourse he in
troduced good points and very fine ar
guments.
Mr.. Mckee was the first speaker for
fine manner the injustice the Boer has
received at the hands of the Uitlander,
and the outrageous demands they
made. He stated that England's pol
Icy is embodied in these few words.
You have wealth. give 1t to us or we
will take it from you"
Mr.. Thomas was the second speaker
for the affirmative. He brought out
the chief characteristics Of the Boer,
telling of the tyrannical way in which
they used the Uitlander, not allowing
him any say whatever in the legisla-
ture, the heavy taxes which are i'm
posed upon him and the deprivation of
all the arms in their possession. Ho
stated that the population of the
Transvaal is 26O,OOO, of which 10000 are
Beers, and this $4,000 control almost
everything. The Uitlanders are not al
lowed the privilege of holding any pub
lie meeting or of serving on jury.
Mr.. Martin was the second speaker
for the negative. He discussed the
question from an educational and
humanitarian standpoint. He stated
that the Beers were a very pious peo-
pie, placing all faith in God and re-
lying upon him to deliver them from
the present crisis as He sees fit. He
also stated that it was England's great
desire for wealth that led her to advo-
cate her present policy in the Trans
vaal.
He was followed by Mr.. Frier, the
third and last speaker for the affirma-
tive. Mr.. Frier ably brought out the
fact that the Beers at the present time
are disobeying the treaty of 1884, in
which the Uitlanders were given GER
tain privileges which they are now de-
prived of. He closed his remarks by
saying that If the Beers are trying to
raise a general uprising among the
various surrounding tribes, if this
takes place it will mean great
slaughter in South Africa.
Mr.. Hoover. the last speaker for the
negative, said that England's present
policy in the Transvaal was urged on
by Mr.. Chamberlain and Mr. Rhodes, of
the British parliament. The Uitland-
ers outnumber the Beers three to one
and if the Beers allowed them to vote
the result would he that the Uitland-
ers would control all the affairs of the
Transvaal and the Beers would have
no say in the affairs of his own gov
ernment. Mr.. Litstone did the sum-
ming up for the affirmative in a very
fine manner, and Mr.. Mckee did equal.
ly as well in his summing up.
After the summing up, the judges
were asked to retire. After remaining
out a few moments they returned and
gave their decision in favor of the
negative. After few remarks by the
critic, the meeting adjourned.