Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-09
young and successful practitioner and IS
a native Of Hampshire county.
AMERICAS SYMPATHY.

Just from what source springs the
popular sympathy in America for the
Beers in the British Transvaal conflict
seems to be a quandary worthy of no
Indifferent notice, inviting retrogres-
sion If we would be fully conversant
with the real cause that produces 1t.
Whether this sympathy that has
grown decidedly universal, if, indeed,
| 1t were not as widely felt at the out
set of the trouble, be produced merely
from the repugnance to see the weaker
subjected to imposition and contumely,
| the helpless exposed to the unjust rule
of the strong, or, from a gross neglect
{of sufficiently diagnosing the facts
as they are, and not as they are viewed
! from either the British or opposing
side, is, l think a question upon which
much depends, If We, as interested OBJ
servers, would judge unbiasedly
When the question OF humanity is
| concerted it is not unlike Americans to
| loose sight of and utterly forget that
certain governing laws and respect for
principalities should be observed; and
| certainly such lofty regard for humane
rights and privileges is not a sentl-
ment to be despised nor ignored; nor
will it go without its just and proper
| applauae, both from abroad and at
home. But there are specific conditions
| that in spite of our desire to be humane
above all else, must claim place in
solving wherein the injustice and fault
is secreted.
| But since the imposition, Gf imposi-
| ton it can be rightfully termed), in this
crisis and most deplorable state OF af-
fairs concerns exclusively matter Of
capital, commodities, property and
political rights, DISCRIMINATING entirely
any question of lack of humane treat
ment and humane law observances,
| this sympathy can scarce be augment
ed by a sentiment of the finer 5cruples,
nor, for that matter, from any extra
ordinary regard for the oppressed and
the powerless. Hence, it would seem
that we are at liberty to admit that it
must be prompted from either lack
of knowledge of from prejudice. We
do not calculate to act as the scales OF
! Justice, for the phases that constitute
such a lamentable affair as this is
proving to be, are so multifarious that
we acknowledge it leaves abundance of
room for wide difference of opinion. 1t
is rather, as previously indicated, our
purpose to learn, if possible, wherein
lies the secret of our sympathy.
After having assiduously reviewed
the facts of the case from the highest
authenticated material at hand, it ap-
pears, indeed, that the Beers are, to
speak in a homely manner, cutting
their own threats, as it were, provided,
of course, that we are privileged to ac-
cept for granted that higher plain of
civilization is superior to material pos
session, (and we consider that it isl,
rights of ownership and such minor
claims as the Beers demand be re-
spected.
Viewed from the standpoint of the
British there is but a single conclusion
that can be reached, and, if do not
misinterpret, it is to the effect that they
desire to improve and heighten the
condition of the Transvaal. But this
is the British view. To be sure, it is
not at all plausible that she would I'M
dertake such a grave responsibility as
this involves merely for the sake of
performing a Christian act. That she
expects, and demands, remuneration is
natural. Indeed, it is only too appar-
ent that-th motive is aught else but
gain, won by enforcing what she con-
siders her lawful rights. She could i'll
afford to sacrifice such an expenditure
of capital to say nothing of the blood
that must be shed. Thus it is folly
to suppose that the British expect moth
ing less than to inaugurate in the
Transvaal a higher plain of civiliza'
ton, yet in their declaration this is
just what they do advocate to be their
foremost intention.
That Dutch policy and British pol
icy are bitter opposing elements we
know too we'll, and this, it would ap-
pear, is the Kings upon which the la
mentable affair swings.
The British aim is justice for the
whites, because they, as the subjects,
are worthy and entitled to such; JUS
tice for the blacks because they have a
natural right to it. This does not, to
be sure, sound so bad, could we but
loose sight of and leave in oblivion
the innate interest in possession and
power. But we cannot consistently do
this, as gratifying as it would be.
They sum up in quite compact ex-
preston (too compact, we fear, to be
sufficiently explanatory, sit is a case
of civilization against non-progres-