The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-09

Mr.. Davis delivered his remarks In an on
hand. easy style, referring to his notes only
occasionally, and mainly when IL was necss-
sary to read an extract from some docu-
ment or speech. He spoke for about two
hours and at it's close was warmly con-
graduated. In opening he said:
.sThe Beers Of South Africa are among
the pioneers of freedom-heroes of civil and
religious liberty. They were the torch
bearers who blazed the pathway for civil
ization through the primeval forests Of the
southern part of that great dark conti-
nent' which has been the marvel OF the
ages No country In all the world contains
a nobler race of men and women; the de-
scendants. too, of the heroic Netherland-
ers. who. under William the Silent. wrested
the independence of Holland from the hand
of the Spanish tyrant. No people IN all
the worlds history have made more VAL
liant effort to secure liberty for future peo-
pies than they. And no people have en-
dured more hardships in the cause OF lib
erty and equality of rights than they. In
deed, II was and is their unconquerable
love for liberty that has caused all their
troubles
Years ago, sfr. Davis continued. the
Beers planted the seed Of liberty In the fer
tile valleys of the Cape OF Good Hope.
where a strong national spirit developed as
early as 1906. when the colony passed into
the hands of England Soon thereafter III
feeling arose between Briton and Boer. Mr..
Davis entered upon an exhaustive review OF
the relations between the Beers and the
British government from that time 20 the
present He described the great trek
northward after the emancipation OF their
slaves the foundation OF the republic OF
Natal and its absorption by England and
the rise of the South African republic
England's acquisition OF the diamond fields
at Kimberley Mr.. Davis characterized as =
transaction without a parallel ''for cupid
ity, dishonor and injustice" OF the ma
terial growth OF the Dutch republics Mr..
Davis said:
"Cities with all the modern improvements
sprang up on the veldt and in the valleys
as IL by magic. and everywhere the church
and schoolhouse told the story OF the peo-
pies progress. II is no wonder the Beers
became intensely proud of their homes in
the Orange Free State and the Tranvaal.
and well may they feel that pride. for they
have their homes in one OF the grandest
the world has I'm IL.
"In the light OF the past history of the
rise and fall OF empires. OF the sad wrecks
of proud and naughty nations. who hated
justice. and honor. and right. but loved
tyranny, oppression and wrong, that are
strewn along the pathway OF the centuries.
L cannot but believe that God has intended
that I'm the two South African republics
liberty and equality OF rights shall prevail.
and the rugged. brave-hearted. God-fear-
ing Beers shall be forever free.
BRITISH WANTED THE GOLD.
"But finally this period OF peace and rest
was broken by the discovery OF gold In the
Transvaal. Then Il was that the British
government determined 10 seek pretext
for obtaining control OF the richest gold
fields I'm the world as II had before secured
the richest diamond fields That this Is the
real cause for the present war no one can
doubt who viii but listen 10 the freauent
remarks made by Engiishmsn In South AT
rica. as well as In England. that the gold