New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-03
SYMPATHY FOR THE BOERS
HOLLAND SOCIETY ADOPTS RrSo,r
TIONS AFTER A DISCUSSION.
A PROVISION TO ASK THE UNITED STATE.
TO USE ITS GOOD OFFICES TO PREVENT
WAR AROCsEs OPPOSITION.


special meeting Of tho Holland Society q.
New York was held last night AZ DelmonIco.
for the purpose Of expressing sympathy vl,h
the South African republic in us struggle VT,
Great Britain. President Tunis g Bergen Gallo,
the meeting 10 order. and directed Secretary
Theodore VI. Banta 10 read tho call FOR las
meeting This call contained the names n.
Mayor Van Wyck. his brother. Augustus Van
WICK and ox-Judge Van Hoosen. vii. nina
others
Mr. Banta said thirty replies had been received
from persons unable 10 attend and only thru,
were in opposition TO the purpose ~ the meeting.
In his speech President Bergen said it Was ~.
ting that the members ~ tho Holland Society,"
who are Of stock that foc eight generations and
two centuries have made their homes IN Amer.
ica should take up the fight for liberty and in<
dependence. He continued. I'm part
There is now quarrel between two ~ our
friends one IS powerful empire the other =
little republic Men who are kin IN blood and
religion are about 10 face each other on The felf
OF battle What shall this society DO? Shall We
take sides or be silent?
Ex-Judge Van Hoesen then read resolutions
expressing sympathy with the Transyaal and
calling on the United States Government 70
take some action In the matter. A debate fo-
lowed
Colonel Hermance protested against the pass
sage Of the resolutions. although expressing
hearty sympathy with the Beers. He said h.
would honor any man who would 60 - this
Transvaal TO fight for the Beers. but he did NOT
believe this country ought to interfere In tho
affairs Of other nations. lie said our war with
Mexico had been a disgrace. and many q, thu
best citizens are in doubt about the recent
course Of the United States
The next speaker. Robert r. Roosevelt. mads
what he intended FOR conciliatory speech. bu,
1t stirred UP much talk. He said. in part:
For one thing IT Is quite certain that our
Government Will take no action any way. In
my opinion 70 ought not At present. too, vs.
are under certain obligations to the British
Government
"How's that? How so? What do you mean7-
and several similar Interruptions came from al
over the room.
Those two nations" ne continued, "unitsi
can police the world"
Mayor Van Wyck was sitting next 70 Mr.,
Roosevelt, and he started up with demand tot
facts and facts only
Well" said Mr.. Roosevelt. last year eyerr
nation in Europe but one was unfriendly 70 Us.
and l think il is only fair 10 deduce that THAI
one friendly"
Mr. Roosevelt proposed an amendment 70 thu
resolution expressing the hope that peace
might be maintained honorable 20 both coun-
tries
Ex-Justice Augustus Van Wyck spoke IN favo,
OF the passage Of strong resolutions. Several
=. ndments had been suggested 10 the pros
p..ed resolutions but all included some refers
ence 10 the ancestry Of the members Of the 500
ciety Mr. Van Wyok poked fun at this feature.
4 h. rfrr
thing in which the various resolutions agreed
was in a bold announcement 10 the world that
they were descended from burghers who cana
here prior to 1915. lie declared:
towards never won liberty nor preserved IL
! have never been able, for my own part
to understand what the grievances OF England
were in the Transyaal. anyhow, except perhaps,
that they wanted the gold mines. II the richest
gold mines in the world had not been discovered
there | don't imagine that England would ba
90 anxious 20 get the country.
Mr. Van Wyck did not believe in being tou
tmid in calling upon the Government to do 9
proper and humane thing and he favored reso-
lutons calling on the President to exercise hii
friendly Offices 10 prevent war.
Warner Van Norden declared that England
had founded the greatest empire the world had
eyer seen. and he did not think there was any
occasion for the United States 10 interfere IN
the affair The United States had seized Texas
Germany had seized various territories. and ha
regarded it inevitable that England should selzs
the Transvaal
The members began 70 camor for tho guess
ton. but motion was put 10 lay The nh'ls
business on the table. The motion was lost. d.
spIte a vigorous speech in favor Of tahling he
question by John r. Van Wormer Mr. Van
Wormer expressed no opinion as 10 tho merits
of the Transvaal controversy. but he said II ~
society had intended 70 take any acti Il
ought to have acted three months since. lis
added
This business Of talking about mon holm:
"covya rds" when they are talking of matters az
common sense is all rot. Just before cam. -
this meeting I heard or a report that var nav
already begun. II we take any action to lI1-
test at this late hour We make ours'iF'7 r'''1-
lOus.
The various concatory amendments proposed
were voted down and finally. hy a standing vote
Of 20 to IS the original resolutions offered ny
Judge Van Hoesen were passed. They were -
follows:
Resolved that the Holland society ~ N"", y OK
composed exclusively OF DESCENDANTS, 81 >n.t.,er .
burghers resident I'm the to.ony or N'"- -,
burrhers Of the so1,h African Republic r 'ae,
struggle for the maintenancr OF .n.r N'.r, mani,
Of the Inited S'ars az, pri-al1 Sor tho prss,~s fa
Of neace between England and rho IraN-'H, a
for the settlement Of the points IN dsi ri
t%esn 10 5h9 'sc SoatS S' Rr,an Repab s'
guaranteed to 10 hy the convention I M , ,hs
,rnsld"nt Of this society and TWO members ~.
iected by hin he anth9.lzel 10 ,og, M m f,e.
going resolutions and 70 urge gp9n nm, nin Gr,,
actor hat var may be ayer,'a poo r,Tf'" o-
var SIN occurs. that peace may be con, 'A1'i