The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-03-03
SYMPATHY FOR THE Beers.
By MOntagu White, American Agen,
of the Dutch South African Republic.

By Montagu White, American Agent
of the Dutch South African Republic.
When the citizens OF the worlds great
republic realize thoroughly that the per-
pctuation or the extinction OF two OF
the only three republics on the face OF
the globe which arc dominated by men
OF Tcutonic blood, the third being the
United States OF America, hang in the
balance OF this struggle in South Al
RIGA; when the pages OF a hundred years
OF unsympathctic treatment and wrong
are read and considered by the judicial
minds OF the American people; and
when it is concluded, as it will be, that
the same republican institutions, the
same struggle for the right OF sclf-gov-
crnmcnt, and the same principles OF hui
man freedom are involved in the war
against the policy OF Chamberlain that
were involved in the war against the
policy Of King Gcorgc-whcn the
American people realize all this no man
can doubt but that they will speak i'll no
uncertain tones.
This war is not the war of the Eng
fish people. No man need blush for
the England OF Gladstonc's rule. This
war is the war OF Mr. Chamberlain. 1t
is the war OF the moncy-lcndcr and OF
the stock broker; OF men gone mad
will, the greed of gold and the lust OF
empire. In it the plain people Of Eng
land, of Scotland and OF Ireland have
no heart. For the men who have start
cd it there must conc a day OF fearful
reckoning.
Before | came here ! could not
realize the extent Of the sympathy in
| America for the cause Of the two rcpub-
lies. have sounded many OF the fore
most men of this country. and now |
have no doubt that the great majority
OF the people of this country stand by
the cause Of the Bocr in this struggle
Millions OF people in this country, who
perhaps love the English well, agree
with millions in England that the pres
cnt war is Il terrible mistake; all the
more criminal because avoidabc.
1t is burning shame that Il nation
like the English should be warning to
cxtcrminate a simple and kindly people
like the Beers. The reports that
Rhodcsian and lingo people have
caused to be spread throughout this
country about them were enough To
bias any people against them at first
| They have misrcprcsentcd facts, dis
tortcd truth, and magnihcd triilcs in
| their cndclvor to SANDER the Dutch
Sat+la fEiean l4aett Haze
| the Beers as degraded and corrupt. II
| the officials were all vcnal would they
| not have been willing to sell out the
| liberties Of the people and their govern
mcnt to the men who stood ready to
! buy with the huge corruption fund
| available in South Africa?
The story OF the Dutch in South Az
RIGA is story OF oppression and OF
| wrong piled upon wrong. Three times
did the people Of the Transvaal rcpub-
| lie leave home and all that a man holds
dear to travel through a country bcsct
by every hardship and danger in order
! that they might escape British DONNA
| ton. The simple narrative OF their SUI
fcrings surpasscs in horror almost any
thing in history or fiction.
There arc few bright spots which
reflect credit and honor on British
craftsmanship in South Africa, but the
new regime marks the darkest passage
in Britain's history.
The success OF the Bocr arms has had
the effect upon American people OF
causing them to sympathizc with the
Beers. No brave man loves coward
Every brave man admircs another brave
man. When the American people saw
a little nation, whose entire population
does not equal that Of many Of the
larger cities OF the United States, stand
defiant i'll the way Of the combined
armies OF an empire of 400, DOC, 900 pco-
pie, and when, time after time their at
tcntion was arrested by the valor OF
the Beers in arms they began to realize
that no dccadcnt or corrupt people
could display such galantry, hcroism
and courage; that no cruel or unjust
people could treat the sick and wound
cd with such humanity and tenderness
as the Beers have done.