New-York tribune., 1900-05-17
"a SHAN REPUBLIC.
CRITICISM FOR KRUEGER's GOVERNMENT
AND THE MISSION OF THE BoER
DELEGATES

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Three gentlemen-Messrs Fischer Vessels
and Wolmarans-from the Transvaal arrived in
NewYork yesterday for the declared purpose
"of appealing to the Government and the people
of the United States for their assistance to re-
store peace in South Africa And they say
also. 1--WE come to make the truth known"
They come to the truest Republic that ever
existed-which won its independence and es-
tabshed its institutions by contending for,
among others, the following three great doc
trines:
Equal civil and political rights.
No taxation without representation.
The independence of its courts of law.
Now, what is the truth these TransvGal gen
tlemen have come To, make known TO us? They
cannot deny that they refused equal rights to
the Outlanders neither can they deny that they
taxed the Outlanders enormously and yet denied
to them any voice or vote in their taxation
Nor can they deny that President KRUGER acted
the part of tyrant when he dictated decisions
to his highest courts OF law, and when the
Chief Judge would not obey President Eriiger
caused the court to be abolished and other
judges substituted" Out of these facts another
truth is evident. The South African Repub-
Tic was and is a sham republic. and it is prepos-
ferrous for these gentlemen 70 come to our Re-
puphc and ask us TO support them in such
thouShtless. wild and blind conduct as they have
manifested to all the world Beyond all oues-
ton. the rule of President KRUGER has been the
rule or the tyrant-precisely of the same kind
that King George III one hundred and twenty
hve years ago insisted should submit IT, Let
me quote from the immortal Declaration:
He George lid has refused to pass laws for
the accommodation of large districts OF people
unless those people would relinquish the right
o. representation in the Legislature a right in
estimable to them and formidable to tyrants
only.
He has obstructed the administration Of ms
tice He has made judges dependent on
MS Will alone for the tenure of their Offices
He has imposed taxes us without our con-
sent.
ask these South African gentlemen Messrs
Fischer Vessels and Wolmarans If the Govern
nent or the Transvaa, is not exact counter
part of the government that George III did his
utmost to impose upon this American people one
hundred and twenty-five years ago? They can
not deny it; and if this be So how can they
ask our Government or people to help
them?
The sympathy Of that part Of our people who
are descended from Dutch ancestry is 10 some
extent natural and pardonable but the sym-
pathy of all other true republicans whether
American. Irish, French or German should not
be given to the Beers. 1t should be given to
lowing our example. corrects its errors and
rights its wrongs. it did sixty years after
America had defeated her. Being then con-
vinced of the great error of George iii. Britain
granted TO all her great colonies the rights and
guarantees which America had won for herself
and for humanity.
Americans and all true republicans will stulti-
fy themselves and bring reproach upon their
country and the great fathers of our country if
they forget these majestic facts of history and
for one moment give countenance to these Boer
commissioners who have arrived here in the
hope-van hope. 1 trust-of persuading our
great Nation and its Government to foresvear
those divine first principles of law, which are
not only the foundations of our Constitution
out also of the great work our people have to
do in this world.
So far as our people shall forget this grand
endowment which they have Inherited by an
plauding and assisting the Beers in the denial
of equal rights. taxing without allowing repre-
sentation, and exercising a personal control Of
that sacred institution, the courts of law. we
shall stand as degeneretes before the Judgment
of the world.
Britain will surely win; and these gentlemen
from South Africa will do well while here to
note our prosperity and gene al welfare and
when they return TO their country accept with
goodwill the liberal government that Britain in
the end will give their people. and determine to
become loyal citizens of the great republic
which Great Britain is establishing almost ev-
erywhere in her dominions. on the same prin-
ciples exactly which our American fathers es-
ia bshed first of all and for all In these United
States.
Under Mr.. Krtiger and his rule, his perversion
of true republican principles and his ambitions,
the Beers have come to grief and ruin If they
nantt thp ahoV-o oil,
and truth the Beers will serve their God and
prosper. and Great Britain will help them on
their way. But 1 beseech you Mr. Editor that
SO far as lies in your power you do not let our
people forget that these great principles are
ours, and that whoever does forget them or
negects them is an migrate and traitor to the
noblest part of our great inheritance. j. p. C.
NewYork, May 16 1900
WOULD STOP CARPET BEATING IN YARDS
To the Editor of The Tribune.