The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-04-17
ELOQUENT AND
PATRIOTIC
Speech of Hon. William Sulzer
of New York.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC.
Denouncement of william McKinley's
Pro English ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Republics should stand by
Republics.

MI Chairman; since tne commence
.ment of this session of congress several
resolutions expressing sympathy with
the South African patriots have been
introduced in this house by myself and
other members The speaker has re-
ferred these resolutions to the committee
on foreign affairs, and, although ample
time has elapsed, that committee has
taken, so far as we know, no action,
and apparently does not intend to take
any action in regard to the same.
For that reason, and lest a more ia
vorable opportunity shall not be avail
able, desire at this time to express
and to place on record my condemnation
of the unjust, the inhuman, the preda-
tory, the cruel, and the barbarous war
the empire of Great Britain Is ruthlessly
conducting in South Africa to destroy
and exterminate two brave little re-
publics, sisters of our own, and as free
and as Independent as this republic.
Mr.. Chairman, the patriotic people of
this country take deep and an abiding
interest in the life and death struggle
between republic and empire now going
on in South Africa. AS an American
citizen and a representative in this con-
gress, l am not ashamed to have 1t
known that my sympathy is now, al
ways has been, and always will be with
the heroic Beers in their magnificent
struggle to maintain their freedom and
their independence against the piracy
of the corrupt oligarchy now controlling
the policy Of the British empire.
am with the Beers and 1 want to
see them maintain their independence
because they are right and because
they are free and deserve to be free.
In contest between liberty and mon
archy 1 want to see liberty win.
The cause of the patriots of South
Africa is a just cause. No one who inn
partially reads history can honestly dis
pute it. They are defending their homes
and repelling tyranical and a remorse-
less invader. England's attempt to
steal their country is the outrage of
the century the eliminating atrocity of
criminal British aggression, and should
be condemned by this republic and by
the christian powers of the world.
In my judgment. if mistake not pub
lie opinion, nine-tenths of the Ameri-
can people are against England in this
bloody war of conquest for sordid gain
and in sympathy with the Beers. The
best thought of England condemns the
conflict, and the awakening conscience
of the British empire demands peace
with honor in the name of humanity,
christianity and civilization.
In 1916 the patriot fathers of this
republic fought England to gain our
independence. The South African pa
triots today are fighting the same coun-
try to maintain their independence.
That is the only difference.
The courage of the Beers in the face
of tremendous odds has challenged the
admiration of mankind, and their hero
ism, against almost insurmountable
obstacles has won the respect of the
civilized world. They are entitled to
our sympathy, and we would be false
to ourselves and TO all our history if we
did not give it to them. The sacrifices
they have thus far made and the gallan-
try, heroism, and bravery they have ex
hibited are unequaled and unparalleled |
in the history of the world.
The story of the struggles, the hard !
ships, the trials and the triumphs of
these people in South Africa is one of the y
saddest and one of the greatest pages in
all history-an imperishable heritage |
to every lover of liberty, and to their !
hardy and valorous descendants an in
centive to maintain their freedom, that |
can never be crushed. No true Ameri-
can can impartially read the history
of the Beers without feeling a deep |
sympathy for them in their present
struggle to uphold and defend their in
dependence against English greed for
gold, English tyranny, and criminal
British aggression for land.
In regard to all the facts of the case
there may be some honest difference of
opinion; but, if there is, it is based,
/ believe, to a large extent on misinfor-
nation or a lack of knowledge of all the
circumstances. English agencies have
been sedulously at work for some time
increasingly disseminating misinforma-
tion in regard to the Beers and the true
situation in South Africa. Let me
ask you all to search out the truth ere
you pass judgment on the brave re-
publicans of South Africa.
Let us briefly review the situation. We
must not rely too much on the colored,
the doctored, and the censored British
reports from English sources in Cape
Colony. England is now and always has
been unscrupulous. In a war like this
a war against humanity-she has little
regard for truth.
In SoutS Africa there are two free and
independent countries-one called the
South African republic" the other
called the Orange Free State" They
are duly organized governments, repub-
lican in form, patterned to a great ex-
tent after our own. and recognized as
free and independent throughout the
world AS a matter of law and as a
matter of fact England has no more
right to meddle with them or to inter-
fere in their internal affairs than she
has to meddle with Mexico or inter-
fere in the internal affairs of the United
States. These states are now and have
been ever since the convention of 1884
free and independent states. There can
be no controversy about this.
These brave South African patriots
are a good deal like the patriots of our
own revolution. They love their homes,