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

to live under free institutions, enjoy the
blessings of liberty, and worship their
Maker according to the dictates of their
own conscience.
The Puritan, the Hollander the Irish
man, the German and the Cavalier came
to this country for the same reason and
for the same purpose.
These sturdy emigrants and their he
roic descendants carved out unaided and
alone their own destiny in the wids
of the Dark Continent amid unspeaka-
BILE hardships and prlvations and gave
to the world civilization as good as
our own. For century and more, in
sunshine and storm, these brave people
toiled and plodded on, and they builded,
like the fathers of this republic, better
than they knew. Surrounded by sava-
ges, harassed by wild beasts, visited by
famine and scourged by disease, in Ill
the long weary and dreary years they
never lost hope, they prayed to God and
never despaired.
They are a simple christian people, as
honest as they are brave. They re-
deemed the wilderness, turned the desert
wastes into sweeping fields of grain,
made the jungle blossom and bloom as
rose, and dotted the hills with villages
and towns. Notwithstanding all they
had TO contend with, they grew, they
prospered, and they were happy until
perfidious Albion came. From that day
to this England has made cruel war on
the Beers. She has repeatedly robbed
them of their lives, their property, and
their lands.
But the spirit of their love of liberty
ho
conquer brave people inspired by the
love of freedom and battling on their
own soil for their homes and their
liberties. They will never surrender their
principles. They will resist oppression
and tyranny until they are extermina-
ted by overwhelming and superior force.
They know, like Patrick Henry, that
resistance to tyrants is obedience to
God. Their love of liberty is stronger
and more tenacious than their love Of
life. Their history is an epic poem of
one long heroic struggle against English
greed, English tyranny, and English
oppression.
These brave Beers are now fighting
perhaps for the last time, for republi-
canism against monarchy; for demo-
cracy against pleutocracy; for home rule
against the bayonet; for the ballot
against the throne; for the love of home
against the love of gold for Saxon
freedom against British tyranny. for
the integrity of their country against
a ruthless invader; for the schoolhouse
against the army barracks: for religious
freedom against foreign domination;
for the fireside of civilization against
the blazing torch of devastation for
free institutions against Imperialism;
and, above all and beyond all, they are
fighting battle for their rights of man.
God grant that their liberties and their
independence shall not be destroyed.
When we consider it all, how true
seem the words of Lowell:
Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong
forever on the throne;
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and
behind the dim unknown
Standeth God within the shadow, keep
ing watch upon His own.
Today in South Africa truth Is on the
scaffold and in England wrong is on
the throne.
The absolute independence of the
South African republic was finally re-
cognized by Great Britain in 1884, and
ever since then it has been as free and
as Independent as our own great re-
public.
Prior to the war 1884 these brave and
fearless men and their ancestors had
struggled and struggled for a century
and more TO establish what they now
possess and what they are at present
so gallantly fighting to maintain-a free
and independent government of their
own. Once, twice, three times, has
England violated her solemn pledge 10
them and trespassed on their sacred
rights. She saw what they had wrought
and her greedy sons coveted it. The
Beers were compelled by English greed
and tyranny and power to move farther
and farther inland. Whenever they
they thought they were secure and had
the right to enjoy the blessing of liberty
and self-government, England en-
on their domain, waged pitt |
less and savage war against them, and
drove them farther and farther from
the sea.
To their credit and their glory, how |
ever, be 1t said that every encroach- |
ment on their land, their rights, and |
their liberties has been manfully and |
resisted. They were forced |
TO move on, but they never gave up |
their freedom; they never surrendered |
their independence.
Prior to the present conflict Majuba |
Hill marks the place of the last con-
lest with Great Britain of these valorous |
people for their homes and their fire.
sides. Majuba Hill! Forever glorious
IN the annals of the South African re-
public's struggle to maintain it's inde-
pendence. Majuba Hill to them is the |
same as Bunker Hill to us, and both will |
i've in history to the end of time as an |
Inspiration to man.
After this disastrous blow to British |
arms the convention of 1884 was entered |
INTO, and all other and prior treaties
we're annulled. By this treaty the South |
African republic became free and in
dependent and took it's place among the |
nations of the world. And Lord Derby, |
hen secretary of the state for the colo
MES and very different man from