Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1900-06-05
The Transvaal Dispute.

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The Transvaal Dispute. IN
HOMER E. RICHARD. .%&$
However time and civilization may
have modified and disguised human;
nature, however knowledge may
have transformed the human in
tellect, but small impression has
been left upon mans soul. That
which is true of man is true also Of
nations. The same motives which
led the ancient Romans and Grecians
to undertake the conquest of the
peoples around them actuate the
powerful European nations OF today
to Cypress the weaker. ..,,s
1t is q case of aggression of this
kind which has called the attention
of the world to South Africa, and
has enlisted the sympathles Of
thousands upon the side OF the Beers
in their struggle for liberty. {:
Mr.. Richard retraced the history
of the English and Dutch settlers in
South Africa. England's arrogancy
led to her defeat at Majuba hill and
the cry of the English for vengeance
was smothered by the great-souled
Gladstone, who would not stoop to
avenge a victory fairly and nobly
won, and 3 liberal measure was
granted the Beers, by which they
were allowed to govern themselves
subject to English supervision.
The discovery of the rich gold beds
of the Weterstrand brought masses
OF foreigners, who, II given equal
rights with the Beers, would soon
have gained control of affairs, and
the franchise laws were adopted.
These laws were unwisely admins
tered and the Uitlanders were heavily
taxed both directly and Indirectly,
and this led to the attempt In 1894
to overthrow the boer government.
Although their attitude was justi-
fable we can but regret the lack OF
wisdom in undertaking the Jameson
raid. Instead of redressing their
grievances, instead of lettering the
relation between the Beers and the
Ultlanders it deepened their mutual
antipathy, and ultimately led up to
the present war.
From the first there has been a,
continual struggle between the two
people. Mr.. Richard considered the
English to blame for this, reciting
the Incidents Of the Trek, the affair
the Sand river convention. He
claimed the Beers lack OF prosperity
was caused by English mis-treat-
ment and hindrance, through her
attacks upon the colony and the en-
couragement of the tribes to revolt.
She is the author of the very cruelty
against which she claims to be fight
Ing. England has done her hest to
darken the Boer character in the
eyes of public opinion and to draw
the attention to the immediate
causes of a war which must be
traced back to English injustice and
interference. 1t is not strange after
her attitude at the time of the
Armenian atrocities that her heart
should be suddenly touched by the
suffering OF the poor Uitlanders.
Stripped of it's cloak OF humanity her
course lies open in all it's barefaced
avarice. She has broken q sacred
contract and entered upon a course
of action unbecoming a civilized and
Christian nation. And her reason?
The completion of the conquest
of South Africa and the appropria-
ton of the gold mines rightfully
belonging to the Transvaal republic.
He denounced England's refusal to
submit to arbitration, and ques-
toned the benefit that could result
from. the bloodshed of such an un-
righteous war.