Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-26
AMnRIcAN vorE ON AFRIoA.

There exists IN this country, It APP
pears. an American Raad" for the
assistance OF the South African repub-
lies. and Mr. Geo. w. Van siclen Of
New York is the president
Some time ago he sent the subioIned
letter 70 all the clergymen Of the
United States:
New York, May 9th, 1900.
Reverend and Dear Sir;
"Be so kind as to obtain the express
sion OF opinion by vote, OF the voters
OF your congregation and OF your ac-
quaintance, upon one side or the other
OF this important question and renal
both sheets 70 me by the 3ist Of May
1900. Whether your own views be In IA
vor Of the British or Of the South Az
rican republics please obtain as fun as
expression as you can OF the Views Of
your people
Let US be perfectly fair TO both sides
81 say this as an American.
please certify each page contain
ing names by signing your name at the
foot and filling In your place Of resi-
dence. SO that no one can question the
good faith and correctness Of this
plebiscite.
"The result Of the whole country will
be announced through the press
Very respectfully yours
GEO. W, VAN SICLEN."
The purpose was to ascertain the
sentiment OF the American people as to
the desirabnlty Of intervening in a
friendly way in behalf OF the Beers.
Mr. Van siclen, in a communication
to the press asserts that the replies
came by the thousands, and are still
coming, from every part Of the coun-
try, except Alaska. Up to June ~
answers were received from $500 clergy
men, and the votes returned IN favor Of
Intervention were 1O6,S3O while those
against were only 1,345. The clergymen
who have sent IN replies sign them
selves as Methodists, Baptists, Catho-
les Congregationalists. Presbyterians,
Episcopalians, Reform Dutch, Unlyer-
salIsts. Hebrews. United Brethren and
Lutherans.
As a matter of curiosity 1t may be in
teresting enough 10 learn the views Of
American citizens on the question, but
how that is going to affect the South
African settlement does not appear.
Great Britain Is not likely to take the
preferences OF religious congregations
on this side Of the ocean into considera-
ton. when her own interests are in
yolved,
There can be no doubt that the Amer
lean people, speaking generally, have
much sympathy for the Beers, who
have made a long and hard
struggle for existence and in
dependence. But at the same time It
will be recognized here. that British
conquest Is not a calamity. as would
be a conquest by savage hordes from
the interior Of Africa. For Great Brit
ain has been the pioneer Of liberty, IN all
parts Of the world It is not impossible
that the Beers themselves. at a future
time win look back to the dark hours
through which they have been passing
the last few months, as their passage
through the troubled sea and the will
derness. into land Of promise. British
rule may yet prove blessing to them.
In the great world conflict that seems
to be drawing near, small countries
that are fortunate enough to come in
under a powerful flag, such as that Of
Great Britain, may have cause TO count
that very fact as their salvation
The Beers should not need to be re-
minded that blessings are sometimes
wrapped in an unattractive exterior,
when rendered by the loving hand Of
Providence.