The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-04-17

EnPllSn as well as n bOeT suanupO1nt,
that the South African republic is and
was since 1884 a sovereign and inde-
pendent state. In proof of this 1 cite
the additional fact that it was admitted
to the International Postal Union, that
1t was a member of the convention of
Geneva, and that our own Government
and all the other powers recognized it
and appointed to it consus. The Uni
ted States consul at Pretoria today Is
acting in that capacity, not only for
us but for Great Britain as well.
Under all the circumstances 1t seems
to me England is now precluded from
raising the question of the independence
of the South Africa republic. For Eng
land to raise this contention at this
late day is a mere flimsy pretext, an
afterthought of Cecil Rhodes and Jos.
Chamberlain, and constitutes blunder
worse than a crime.
The question of suzerainty was not
raised at first in the differences with
the South African republic. There never
would have been trouble IL gold had
not been discovered in the land. The
rich find of gold there is at the bot
tom of 1t all. Love of gold is the cause
of this cruel Anglo-African war.
Cecil Rhodes, the most daring and
colossal grabber and manipulation of the
century, coveted the Beers golden land
He wanted it for his English chartered
syndicate. He and Chamberlain insti-
gated the Jameson raid, and Chamber
lain repudiated 1t when the Beers made
it a miserable failure. Cecil Rhodes
plotted and planned against the Beers.
He stirred up dissentions among the
people of Pretoria; he conspired in South
Africa and in Europe to overthrow the
republics. He is the power behind the
British ministry in this war, and
Chamberlain is now, and always has
been, his willing tool.
This conflict should be called Cecil
Rhodes's war for gold and conquest IN
South Africa. He is responsible for all
the woe, all the sorrow, all the despair,
and all the misery this war has caused.
He is the Pizarro of the nineteenth CEN
tury.
Mr.. Chamberlain and Mr.. Rhodes be-
gan the present trouble by taking up the
alleged grievances of the English aliens
or uitlanders in South Africa. Mr..
Chamberlain practically demanded they
be enfranchised without abjuring or
renouncing their allegiance to the
British crown. This proposition is, and
was, preposterous. No government on
earth would submit to it.
If the English aliens in the Trans
vaal wanted to become citizens of the
Boer republic, they had to comply with
the law, just the same as English aliens
in this country, in order to become citi-
Zens of the United States, must comply
with our law and renounce forever their
allegiance to the British crown. The
law there regarding naturalization is
just about the same as the law here.
If anything, it is more liberal.
But be these grievances of the foreign
ers in the South African republic re-
garding franchise, taxation, and re-
presentation just or unjust, reasonable
or unreasonable, it was no cause for this
sanguinary war. AS a matter of fact,
however, the South African republic
was willing to comply with every re-
quest of the English government re-
garding the franchise and all other al
legged grievances of the uitlanders.
think it can be safely stated that
the Beers were willing to arbitrate all
questions of difference between the two
governments; but England declined and
began a systematic concentration of
English troops on their frontier, which
in itself constituted practical declara-
ton of war against them.
And, sir, let me say right here that If
the friends and sympathizers of Eng
land urge as a reason for British in
reference and as a justification Of this
war the alleged grievances of the uit-
landers in regard to the franchise, taxa
ton, and representation in the Trans
vaal, the friends and sympathizers of
the Beers answer that England's rules.
laws, and regulations regarding Ameri-
can aliens in the British Klondike are
more severe, more grevious, and more
burdensome. And yet does anyone here
urge a war with England on account
Of the grievances of American miners
In the British Klondike?
From all the facts and circumstances
N the case, / am convinced and clearly |
IF the opinion that England has no
right to interfere in the internal affairs |
IF the Beers. Her pretexts for doing so
are untenable, and her entire course in
the matter has ben selfish. cruel, un-
ustifiable, and dishonorable.
today is the most criminal, the most |
and the most predatory war
n all history. The Beers at all times |
we're willing to concede every fair and
lust demand England made. Nothing |
would satisfy Rhodes and Chamber
ain. They wanted the land Of the Beers |
because it contained gold, and all the |
)ther incidental demands were merely |
)retexts. AS soon as one was conceded, |
another and harder one was made.
The truth is, and history will so re-
cord 1t, that England wanted the con-
.rol of this country because it is the |
'ichest in gold in the world. England |
always puts in claim where gold Is |
'ound.
England is now and always has been |
he aggressor against the Beers. The
of the British troops on |
he frontier of the Orange Free State |
and the South African republic was a |