Connecticut western news., 1900-03-15
THE BOER WAR.
To he Editor of The Ne,os:


 However in your issue of March first n an editorial concerning the surrender ,f General Cronie it seems to me that ,ou have not approached the matter in ,our usual spirit of fairness, while granting to everyone perfect right to lis convictions provided he has req ,on for holding these convictions and in this position, it would give nc much pleasure if you would be 80 kind as to publish this little article. As free citizens of free country let us ex- anime into the matter without preju- dice.
 The misnomer, Republic" applied to the Transvaal, has doubtless misled many of us. Is it right that citizens of our country and of England who have gone to Africa should be taxed to the utmost and not allowed vote until they have lived in the country not less than fifteen years and then not until they are over the age of forty? And even then only on two-thirds vote of the electors (Boers). Yet these same uninfranchised Uitlanders pay nine tenths of the taxes collected in the Transy aal.
 am sure we have all heard some time during our lives of certain "Act" that England intended imposing upon the people of America at the beginning of the Revolutionary war. This was the Stamp Act" and was the cause of that war This same act brought forth those famous words, Taxation without representation is tyranny" Was it not because of these taxes that the 'Sons of Liberty" gave up all that was nearest and dearest to them, and America be- came the "Land of Liberty" Are we forgetting these fundamental princi- ples of our countryp One law for the Boer, another for the Uitlander, third for the negro; a republic forsooth.
 The Boers as class, practically held to custom for which the people of New England gave up all that was precious to them, in order that this now odious Boer custom-slavery- might be abolished. Are we entirely disregsrding the sacred beliefs of our fathers2 The Boers are said to be re- ligious and evidently the religion of Dom Paul is of very practical turn.
 Do we not rem member how that a short time since, certain Americans together with other Uitlanders employ ed in the mines in the Transvaal com bined for the purpose of obtaining such rights ss every citizen in the United States enjoys, viz: freedom of speech and equal rights before the courts? And have we forgotten that these men were arrested and put in jail? And how that President Kruger imported 8 judge to try these men, as no judge could be found at home who would pro- nounce the sentence of death and im- prisonment which Paul Kruger, the President (D requiredP And has it entirely faded from our memories that Mir Kruger saeing he had overstepped his limit, mitigated these sentences? But how9. It being against his ''relig- ious principles" to accept these fines, "the price of blood" from these men, he told them that if they would contrib ute certain sums of money to charity, which amounts would be decided upon by "his friends" that he would set them free. These American citizens of ours had the extreme pleasure of contribut. ing to Paul Kruger's "private charities quite liberal amounts. One of them the handsome sum of more than one hundred thousand dollars and the least any of them gave was ten thousand. Considering the spirit h which they gave it they deserve great praise. Are we going to countenance these atrooi- ties perpetrated against our country men? And is this religion? General Oropje, we will admit is a brave soldier but have we never heard that in the for mer war between England and the Transvaal, when Cronie had garrison of British soldiers surrounded that he made them surrender twenty -four hours after be had been notified that a general armistice had been signed? Do we call the use of .white flags" and "red cross emblems" used to protect the fighting Boers-bravery? Have we so soon forgotten that we cond smned the Spanish sharp-shooters for firing on the Hospital staff at the battle of Santi- agoa Already I fear I have trespassed upon your good will. Nevertheless my love for the United States. my own dear country, compels me to state these few facts which I fear we overlooked when we condemn our Anglo-Saxon brothers across the ocean in their pros. eoution of this war, wagsd as it is in the interests of justice, not for Englishmen only. but for every Uitlander, be he Briton or American, Jew or Christian, black or white.
 May ;t be the fervent prayer of every true citizen of this beloved country of ours. that we may live to see the day when the Anglo-Saxon races will be united, when the Union Jack and Old Glory together will stand before the whole world as an emblem of Liberty, Prosperity and Christianity.
 Yours faithfully,
 A LOYAL AMERICAN.