New-York tribune., 1900-05-23
ERRORS OF PRO-BOERS.
AII,EYNE IRELAND POINTS OUT SOME
OF THEIR FALLACIES.

on vas accompanied by a stenographer who
took down what speeches and portions Of
speeches I directed. + mention this in order 10
avoid any contention that the criticisms which
I make in this letter based on Inaccurate
newspaper reports.
The American speakers on the occascfon d.
rected the greater part Of their time not 10
any explanation OF the justice OF the Boer
cause but to a general attack upon the British
Government In the past and present We We're
told of the Field of Senlac. Of the iniquities OF
Give and Hastings in India. of the elOquence OF
Burke. of the influence of British imperial pol
icy on the wages OF the wOrkingmsn In Eng
land of the difference between the Norman and
the Anglo-Saxon elements in the makeup OF
the average Briton. Of the unrepresentative
character of the British Parliament. OF the
danger threatening the Monroe Doctrine from
the dispatch of Canadian troops 10 South
Africa. Of the bitter enmity shown by England
to this country during the last two hundred
years. and of a great many other things abso-
lutely unconnected with the merits Of the cause
represented BY the Boer delegates.
Leaving out all this irrelevant matter and
passing over as a pleasant interlude. Mrs.
Lambs charming recitation OF The Spirit OF
20" there were a few statements made about
the war in South Africa. the incorrectness OF
which may be due to the fact that they slipped
by chance, apparently. into eloquent speeches
on American politics.
do not differentiate the speakers. but these
were the statements:
First-That God would not permit the intus-
tice of the absorption Of the South African re-
publics into the British Empire.
Second-That II God by any chance should
show Himself remiss in arranging the defeat OF
the British, the great American people would
take up the work where He left IL off
Third-That this could be effected II the
American people said to Great Britain the
word, Stop"
Fourth-That Mr. Cochran trembled at the
consequences which would follow a possible
British victory.
Fifth-That every single book written about
the war by Englishmen is full of brutal feroc-
ity
Sixth-That the Transvaal system Of taxa
tion is the Ightest in the world
Seventh-That the Beers are fighting for the
same things that the American colonies fought
for in 1176
In regard to the first and second points can
express no opinion AS to the first 1 am held
back by the fact that 1 not in the conf
dence of the Almighty in regard to His inten-
tions in South Africa; as regards the second
point I cannot permit myself to indulge in any
remarks, because 1 do not think ii is fitting
thing for a foreigner to express any public
views to what the American people may or
may not do in any circumstance. On the other
points 1 feel at liberty TO offer these remarks:
AS TO the suggestion that the word STOP
from the American people would cause Great
Britain to stay her hand. I only say that
unless a residence OF many years in all parts
of the British Empire has failed TO teach
something of the temper and spirit Of the people
of Great and Greater Britain / am right in
believing that, so far from that word causing
cessation of hostilities. 1t would plunge this
country and the British Empire into bloody
struggle. infinitely deplorable than the
present and fraught with far greater dan
gers to the general progress of civilization
If Mr.. Cochran trembes at the consequences
which would follow British victory In South
Africa he trembIes at things which will make
most other people rejoice.
He trembles at the granting after brief and
necessary interval of all substantial rights OF
self government to all white men Of the terri
tories ruled by the South African Republics
"a right hitherto confined to small percentage
of the inhabitants.
He trembles at the throwing open of these ter
ritories to the free and unrestricted competition
of American commerce.
He trembles at the abolition Of those unjust
monopolies which have stifled many branches
of trade in the TransvaaL
He trembles a the removal of those laws
which forbid Jew Roman Catholic to hold
Office under the Government.
He trembles at the granting TO every man the
right of trial by jury of his peers
He trembles at the establishment OF an honest
and impartial judiciary
He trembles at the erection Of an honest and
efficient civil service.
He trembles at these things for these are the
consequences which would follow final Brit
ish triumph in South Africa
The statement that every book written By
Englishmen about the war Is full of brutal
ferocity is untrue. Can Mr.. Cochran give a
passage of brutal ferocity occurring in any OF
the following books?
Great Britain and the Dutch Republics"
Times office. London. 1900.
The Transvaal from Within" by Fitzpatrick.
London. 1900.
Impressions OF South Africa" by James
Bryce. New-York 1900
THE Anglo Boer Conflict" by Alleyne Ireland
Boston. 1900.
The statement that the taxation in the
Transvaal is the lightest in the world is untrue
will appear from the following figures:
REVENUE PER CAPITA FROM TAXATION
Transvaal. $50 (per head Of white popula-
tionl; United States 81 81; United Kingdom.
S11 81; France, Sl6 30.
The statement that the Beers are fighting for
the things for which the American col
onies fought in 1I16 may be best disproved by
comparing the American Declaration of Inde-
pendence with the manifesto issued by the
Transvaal National Union, in which en-
bodied the chief objects for which the British
Empire not the Beers, is now fighting
Declaration of Indepen-i The BRUSH claims
Gence against hlng asainst President kra-
FirstSfIe has refused sTrst-we want eff
his consent TO laws the cient civil service, with