The Van Buren press., 1900-03-24
BRITAIN AND THE BOERS.
rhe British Side Of the War In
south Africa Presented ~
Prof. w. ID. Mackenzie.

St. Louis. March 21.-At mass
meeting, called to raise funds for the
widows and orphans of "Tommy At
k:ns," the "Absent-Mnded Beggar'
who is fighting his country's battles
in South Africa, held in this city, Mon-
day night, Prof. W. Douglass Mac;
Kd,7ie, of Chicago, who has spent
some time in the Orange Free State,
presented the British side of the con-
troyersy. He said in part:
"The claim Of the Beers that they are
fighting for freedom and independence -
superficial. The Transvaal is at war Pc
cause 1t refused to become repupic,
England Is at war because she demanueu
that the Transvaal live up TO It's claim
The nations of Europe who are against
England in this struggle are the same
tina. were against this country CURING
the war with Spain People VINO throus
the streets at Paris and cheer every BRIT
ish defeat are the same people VINO were
disappointed when they heard the news
OF the American victory at Manila. III,
"Erglands advent in the Transvaal nnne WIZ ~
their homes, as some people claim.
Throughout her history, England mas
made homes the world over, and not de-
strcyed them. Some say that Great brlt,
ain is in war for gold. Let me tell you
that when this war Is over England VIII
have much less gold than she had Wheni
she went into this struggle. England dlI
not start this war for the purpose oi
gaining gold or for any other gain, or 10
tax the people of the Transvaal. England
has been busy forgetting how TO tax col
onies ever since 1776. Some years ago hru-
ger tried to subsidize the orange free
Lot off
slGc,0OG for ten years. The governor OF
the state refused the offer, telling hru-
ger that such an action would mean Wur
with England The next year the gov
ernor died, and Kruger Immediately made
the same proposition to his successor, VINO
accepted the offer. The man who slgneI
the treaty with Kruger is the same nan
who signed the ultimatum that dragged
England into the war In South Africa.
"England has not asserted any rights
in the Transvaal other than those whlcn
belong to neighboring governments ior
the protection of rs subjects. You nave
been told how the Beers were intimidated
into signing treaty which annexed them
to England In 1852. When this treaty was
signed there was not British soldier IN
the country. Later the Beers were given
self-government, and their government
decayed in a few years, and they showed
that they could not maintain a govern
ment at that time. They were at the
mercy Of the savage tribes that infested
tlleir borders, and England again had to
come to the rescue OF the people and
save them from determination. The En-
glish colonial minister and the president
OF the Boer republic together drafted the
annexation papers. In 1881 self-govern,,
ment was again granted the Beers, anu
this government, which they have mis-.
used since that time, was voluntarily
granted to them by Great Britain.
Great Britain's only object In the
Trunsvaal is to secure just treatment for
her subjects, and when she secures It for
them she secures II for all other subjects.
When President Kruger was asked by Sir
Evelyn Wood II all Englishmen settling
in the Transvaal would be granted the
same rights az the burghers, he was told
that they would be allowed the same priv
ileeos as the subjects of the Boer govern
ment, How that promise was kept you
all know. Englshman and others are
talked for everything, but they are not al
lowed to say how the money shall be
spent They are not benefited by 1t; thev
have asked to be allowed voice In the
government, but their requests have been
refused.
"Engand asked the same thing and met
with like refusal. She asks no longer,
she demands now, and she will see that
all have equal rights"