Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-06-02
WOODSTOCK. VT" SATURDAY. JUNE 2. 1900

! joieing. for by their work was freedom
enjoyed, The speaker said that the
struggle IN South Africa Was on that
they We're fighting for the same principle
| and that so,'rpw was now their portion
but In after years SHAFT would DC
| erected typifying the struggle. and on
each anniveI sary. with similar rejoicing,
would the day be observed,
The wreath bore The following inscrlp-
tion; ~ tribute from the Hoers ~ lhe
South African republic and the Orange
Free state to the soldiers and sailors of
Boston who fought a. maintain the rr-
public and keep the Union whole, May
80, 1900"
From the monument the procession
proceeded around the monument
through 10 Beacon and School streets To
the Parker House, whore the envoys are
10 remain during their stay In the eity'
Around the hotel the streets were
crowded Flags were waved ana cheers
given heartily, continuing until, upon
the balcony above the entrance, the en-
yoys appeared. and briefly addressed the
crowd.
Mr.. Vessels. the first speaker, said:
~ am here as representative OF
people who are fiehting for their liberty,
We bring to you message from sur
ferlng people, and your reply VIII MI
their hearts with gladness for they VIII
know that the people OF Boston SYM
pathlze with them"
Mr.. Fischer. who followed. raid: at
would have been strange had We not
"a a.. hnk L..4 l.xF
ana We are deeply grateful, You repre-
sent the greatest republic that the world
has. and. as a people. stand for all that
liberty and freedom typify, We were
told that you We're cold and unsym-
pathetic. ] knew II was untrue. We
are here In the interest OF good cause.
and your kindly expressions have moved
us. We. as q people. viii do the b.st we
can TO prove to you that We deserve
your sympathy and interest"
Mr.. Wafmarans, who cannot speak
English. spoke through Mr.. Fischer as
interpreter. He said the Beers were
making the pluckicst fight ever known In
ancient or modern warfare. and he re-
gretted the fact that he could not speak
the English language, but he desired to
NNpiVHS 'i' thouhHtS Va ~ I'VpN WIN
were laying down their lives for their
liberty. 'The feeling" said he. rs no
longer one of mourning. but OF gladness."
Even II the whole countr.' Is taken
and the leaders imprisoned. the war will
cease only for time, and II will he re-
newed again and again, II need be, un-
Ill we get our liberty" was the ut
terance OF Mr. Fischer. when he was
shown the bulletin from London an
nouncing the impending surrender Of
Pretoria.
fhe bulletin was read to him. 10 COM
pany with the others of the Transvaal
republics representatives. at the st.
Botolph club, where they were being
entertained. Mr.. Fischer was the most
communicative. He declared that at
The time Of their departure from Pre-
toria, three months ago, there were two
plans of action which had been deter
mined upon. In the event of the ap-
proach of the British to Pretoria.
One was to concentrate all the Boer
forces inside the city. and leave the rest
of the country open to the British, until
the fall of the city. The other was to
evacuate Pretoria, after a slight show
Of resistance. to enable supplies to
be collected, then the army was to scat
ter into the mountains and enter upon
guerilla warfare, which would last until
the last man was killed.
THE war may be ended" he
said. but it will be for only short time
The British may get their heel upon
the Boer head, and press it down
heavily, but at the slightest relaxation
Of the pressure. the Boer will squirm,
and whenever an opportunity shall pre-
sent itself, he will rise and repay the
hurt"