West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-05-03
PRESTON COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA. THURSDAY NAY wm
THOSE BOERS.
A Few Thoughts Concerning Them.
written for The Argus

$3.50 "''N s"'"" !" "eNHhlnk 20 nc hluftcd
aud bnllied by the greatest land-grabbinc
nation the world has ever known. We
chuekled at the series of severe defeats they
inflicted upon superior numbers Of British
troops
IL is doubtful II the Beers have actually
mustered $1,000 fighting men. and vet
England is putting 100000 troops into the
field against them a larger number than she
sent to our shores during the war Of the
Revolution.
The world has been taking il for granted
that the British will prevail in the prcsen,
South African war, ye, with the odds seem
ingly now in their favor, Il is sdl evident
iha, there will be no walk-ovcr for England
The pertinacity of the Du,ch race is well
known historical fact and IT is still likely
that they will continue 70 show It In the
present instance.
Aud yet our people are much inclined To-
Sonsider the Boers decidedly in the wrong
We are told that, after inviting Immigration.
they oppressed the outlanders, and denied
them the suffrage. We arc told they are
ignorant and dirty; that they are nm.
progressive, and dcspisc civilization; that
they arc half "niggcr" and hate the British.
There is some color of truth for these
charges, yet they need to be taken with n
very large grain of SALT coming, as they do.
from English sources, and from those of our
own people who have adopted the custom OF
snee1ng whenever John Bull takes snuff.
II is small wonder the Boers waste little
love ON the British, since the latter Govern.
meni forced itself into South Africa against
the wishes of the Dutch colonists, and has
ever since treated the cmigrant Beers with n
short sighted insolonce and brutality. Eng
land treated us in much the same way for
80 years after the close of the Revolution.
and this is not yet forgotten by the mass of
the American people.
Pioneering people are not generally noted
for a high degree of culture or of personal
neaincss In the early years Of this cen
tury, the white people of Kentucky, Ohio
aud Indiana were. to a great extent, uncouth,
unkempt and illitcrate. They lived in
cabins little better than Indian wipwams.
Dickens and other English visitors, turned
up their noses at them. But In intelligence.
Thrift, and general progressiycness, the
Western States are second to none in the
American Union. II is well to remember
such matters before forming harsh iudg-
ment Of the Bocrs. And, as to the one
question Of ncaIness, the greater part Of the
year in the rransvaal IS rninlcss and dusty.
and water becomes scarce, even for the
cattle.
Aside from its mineral riches, the two
Republics arc poor countries These riches
were quite unknown when the Bocr Govern
men, invited immigration. Had they re-
maincd undiscovered, few people would
have gone there, and the outside influence
would have been slight
But gold and diamonds were found The
diamond territory was promptly grabbcd
away from the Orange Free State, and the
gold-rcefs Of the 'rransyaal have all along
been coveted by Cecil Rhodes and men of
his stripe the real instigaton Of the war. II
is admitted that the taxes levied by the
Pretoria Government on the johannesburg
mines were less burdcnsome than those
levied by The Canadian Government on
American miners in the Klondike.
AS for the franchise, that is q specimen of
English hypocrisy. The outlandcrs Jared
quite well on the whole. They did not
wish to become Bocr citizens. An they
wanted Of the franchise was to vote them
selves and the Beers also, into the British
Empire.
With The Beers, this suffrage issue was
question Of national existence. Were they
without some excuse in declining TO allow
their independence 10 be bloued out in this
summary manner?
The Beers are devoted 10 their PASTORAL
life and there is something in the almost
limitless czpaose Of the South African
pradcs that inspires an intense love Of
political freedom. The Beers are temperate
and very moral They do not mix with the
natives English liars to The contrary. not
wilbstanding. They are taller and stronger
than The English, and cooler in face Of
danger This physical superiority comes
through iheir opcn-air life
Progress aud Improvement, those words
which we Americans worship So much.
meant 90 the Beers luxury, vice. greed.
fear Of poverty nerc-racking worry. and "a
ocaseiess scramble for the almighty dollar.
The Beers beheld progress" 10 The guise n
millionaire mine owners, besides gamblers
and painted women and, not being fools.
they we're m no hurry 10 adopt 10.
Had they been given a fair chance the
hDcralizing influences At work among the
Boers would have lcsscned the difference
between che Boer type Of civilization and
ihc ouiiandcf type. a wise policy ON thc
Partof lh- British Government would have
secured the peaceful inclusion Of both Of thr
3oc Rcpnbics into federation of ali thc
South Afdcan States
The British may overwhelm the Iioeu.
yei not subduc them They may annex
iheir COMMITTEES, bot they will secure htuc
else thaH wasted lend with iis wfciched .n-
habnanis. The seeds of hatred and distrust
haye been so well sown thai they win Hncer
iof many a long ycar a strong military
force is likely to be maioisincd io soa,h
Africa for years ,fier hosUHacs shall have
nom'naiIy closed. fngiand may crush ,hc
Boers through sheet wcieht and through
Disregard oi blood and treasure. but ths
war "'il nrine Fey neithcrced't nor glory
IRe war Isl p.i eal blundcr and dis
grace 90 civllaisa.
A Pas, Bicycle Rider