The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-09
Resolutions Too Strong for Con-
servative Part of Audience.
Late Offcfal of Interior Depa artment
Addresses n Large Assemblnge I'm
the Capital, Paying High Tribute
to Character of the Beers, De-
sion md Declaring the Republics
Entitled to sympathy of Liberty
Lovers-Storm Raised Over Reso-
Iutions-Mcetipg Ends in Disorder.

WASHINGTON. April s-An immense
audience gathered at the Grand opera
house tonight to listen TO an address on
the war in South Africa from the Hon.
Webster Davis. ex-assistant secretary OF
the interior who has just returned to the
United States from that country. Every
available bit Of standing room in the opera
house, the largest auditorium in Washing
ton. was filled with auditors, who paid
close attention TO every word uttered by
the speaker and manifested their appre-
ciation of his telling points with frequent
and generous applause.
Simple decorations of the United States
flag and the red. white and black bars.
with the field of green. the emblem Of the
Beers, were suspended from the stage.
Prominent Men Present.
A score or more of public men, mainly
senators and representatives of congress.
occupied seats on the stage and in the
audience. Among them were the follow
ing: Senators Clay, Daniel, Teller. Bacon.
Allen and Mason. and Representatives
Talbert. Jett. Littlefeld, Ridgeley. Robin
son of Indiana, Burke of Texas. Ball. Gil
bert, Latimer. Cox of Tennessee. Cow
herd, Clark of Missouri. Bariholdt and
Shafroth.
Mr.. Davis was introduced by Mr.. p. I.
Moran, the chairman of the executive
committee, who made a few introductory
remarks.
Mr. Davis delivered his remarks In an
ofrhand, easy style, referring to his notes
only occasionally. and mainly when 1t
was necessary to read an extract from
some document or speech. He spoke for
about two hours, and at its close was
warmly congratulated.
Tribute TO the Beers.
THE Beers OF South Africa" said Mr..
Dav- ARE among the pioneers of free
don zoos Of civil and religious liberty.
They the toreh-bearers who blazed
the pa hFay for civilization through the
primeval forests OF the southern part of
that great dark continent which has been
the marvel Of the ages. No country In all
the world contains a nobler race OF men
and women. II was and is their uncon-
qaerable love for liberty that has caused
all their troubles
Mr.. Davis entered upon an exhaustive
review Of the relations between the Beers
and the British government. from the time
OF the absorption Of Cape Colony to the
present Englaud's acquisition OF the da-
mond fields at Kimberley Mr.. Davis char
acterized as a transaction without a par
allel FOR cupidity, dIshonor and injus-
,ice."
1t was after the discovery Of gold In
the TransyRal," MIR. Davis said, that the
British government determined TO seek a
pretext for gaining control OF the richest
gold fields In the world, as Il had already
seized the richest diamond nelds. That
this is the real cause OF the present war
no one can doubt who viii but listen to
the few remarks made BY Englishmon IN
South Africa. as well as in ENGLAND. that
the gold mines IN the Transyaal are
worth nghting for. and We are 10 keep on
nghtiHg until We get them
Pretext for Robbery.
NO nlmsier prctext for robbery and
murder ever emanated from the etrkedest
cabinet in Europe. ln is palmiest days.
taan tho British demand for a FIVE years
franchise IN the South African republic.
II this demand were granted not an Eng
Ishmau iu the Transvaal would FenouDce
allegiance 70 the queen and swear eternal
allegiance 10 the South African republic
az against the British government TIE
Idea vas 20 obtain the power 20 control
the government cf Tire republic. and at the
same time remain British subiects F'ur
the Boo-s 10 comply with the demands %
the British government would have meant
the sacrifice of every vesiige ~ the South
African Trsusvaal as Al individual re-
public
The Beers have been greatly abused
rs the BRUSH. because % is claimed they
began the war. Iu other words. tha
walt until au the British troops had az
rived la South Africa IS hoover heard