New-York tribune., 1899-11-11
THE ISSUE IN THE TRANsvAAL
PRINCIPLES AT STAKE WIN AMERICAN SYM
PATaY FOR ENGLAND.

PATHY FOR ENGLAND.
40 the Editor of TIE Tribune.
Sir: There is an interesting identity in the prin-
Ciples for which our fathers fought in the Amer-
can Revolution and those for which the English are
cor,tending in the present South African war. In
each case the causes Of trouble violations of
personal liberty and taxation without representa-
: tation One hundred and twenty-five years ago
George III and his fatuous government were on the
wrong side Of the argument with us. To-day the
English Government has reversed Its old attitude.
and is fighting to give Its colonists the rights we
claimed OF old from the mother country. And so 1t
IS not surprising that Americans sympathze with
her. George III and Dom Paul are two OF kind
a pair Of pigheaded and arbitrary Dutchmen. with
otherwise some excellent qualities. But when they
place themselves in the way Of progress, enlight-
eminent equal rights and Just laws 1t Is fitting that
they should be pushed out of the way. Two false
ideas have much be 'ouded the merits Of this strug-
gle between the Beers and the Birthstone that the
Transvaal is republic the other that the Beers are
fighting for their atars. homes. fresides, ETC. An
oligarchy. autocracy. is not republic nor Is
ruler Ike Kruger who removes from office just
Judges whose judgments do not suit him. and
who alters the laws OF the land to fit his own pur-
poses any the less an odious despot because he Is
called the President Of a republic How incon-
ceivable such doings on the part OF an English
sovereign American president. and how low
must be the civilization that tolerates them. They
might do for China, Siam Morocco. but what
travesty they on the name of republic?
With the consent Of the Beers many Englishmep,
some Germans, Americans and others from the
outer world have been during the last fifteen years
.. developing the mining resources OF the Transvaa
which the Beers had neither the disposition nor
. the technical skill TO DO. They built up great
: business and a large English speaking city In the
wilderness. They interfered not with the farms
and focks OF the bucolic Beers. save TO give them
a better market for their produce. They made
money be sure. but in way that enriched the
so-caled republic and paid the bulk OF Its taxes
They minded their own business; but unfortunate
ly the Beers did not They undertook TO break In
upon the ideals of Englishmen and Americans In
matters of civil government and personal liberty.
and the intelligent and enterprising Outlanders
with no political rights that the Beers felt bound
fo respect have been subjected 10 years OF harass
Inent and Injustice than the wrongs that
brought about our own Revolution. at the hands
OF an unprogressive and ignorant people, apparently
incapa BILE Of understanding those principles OF JUS
tice and equity which undery the social ana po-
IItjcal constitution OF England and America
For a pastoral and ignorant people to undertake
70 rule "A community like that OF johannesburg
made up largely Of intelligent Enghshmen ana
Americans is an anachronism sure TO enc IN
trouble The trouble Is well under way; the
anachronsm is ended, and sooner or later superior
civilization, with the Ideas of equity ana the equai-
ity OF men before the law. Will overcome
And II Dom Paul and his little cabal OF L IppeI
Burghers are next month or next year turned our
OF power and a British or an American sort OF
government substituted for them the great mas
OF the Beers themselves Will have more rie"'S