The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-04-13
ELOQUENT APPEAL OF AN ENGLISH
Liberal.

e. Clarke, minister of the gospel, of
Matlock, Derbyshire, England, under
| date of March 2Sth, writes to the New
York World:
"All honor to you for your brave
efforts on behalf of peace and humanity
in South Africa! Yours is the only
American paper quoted in the Old
World that seems quite likely of the
New Worlds history and spirit. Had
all Americans spoken out as you have
done things would have taken a diff
ferent course for the oppressed South
African sister republics. But even now
is America doing all in her power in
this matter? Is she helping, say, as she
was helped in her own struggle for inde-
pendence?
II am sure you do not know the hor-
ror and deep degradation many of us in
England feel in this matter. nor the
wistful eyes we in our helplessness
cast across the waters. In your strug-
gle an English syInpathizer with the
struggling fathers of American inde-
pendence was much safer than Is
Boer sympathizer now. Things have
not changed for the better. There is
only one gospel for the world at present
and that is British supremacy and
death to all who will not accept 1t. But
what would have been the worlds his
tory If America had not achieved her
freedom? 1t would not have been the
same world. Comparatively it would
have been the dark ages still.
But in your infant feebleness-though
a giant to the small Boer republics
wouldyou have achieved it? Were
there not moments when your fathers
despaired of it and when many of your
citizen and farmer soldiers turned their
face and feet homeward in despair? But
the e-blessed sympathy and help Of others
were not denied those noble men. Thank
the God of the nations for 1t. What ye
then freely received freely give to others.
Who knows what germs of greatness
and help for the human family may lie
in this present struggle for freedom in
Africa? In any case a civilized, chris
tianized people, first in possession of the
land, and whose toll has given 1t all its
worth-as was the case with your
fathers of old-have surely right to
live and govern themselves without the
alternative of death or the supremacy
of a foreign power. Help them to do
sol
What bloodless victory you achiev-
ed for Venezuela! No one now doubts
you were in the right any more than
they deny the power of your protest.
Your voice echoed in the prison of Drey-
fus, and not only cheered but helped to
break his fetters. In many things you
have shown that you can be potent for
freedom and justice over here. Be 40
again, and receive the brokenhearted
gratitude of the oppressed and the honor
of a world still in love with nobleness
where it finds it. If America means it
America can do 1t and not fire a shot
in doing so. But to know to do good and
to do it not is sin, such sin as furnishes
a nations fame.
This time, to all appearance, the re-
publics are doomed. And no one in the
Old World will raise a hand. Monarchias
will naturally support monarchies, and
If republics do not stand by republics
who will? 1t is the little ones now, but
the turn of the big republics will come.
Do not delude yourselves that you are
anybetter liked. There is enough nearer
home and it is a spirit that grows, to
teach you otherwise. Well as we do to
others shall it be done to us. Help and
ye shall be helped. Who knows the
agony of heart and the flow of blood
you might stay?
MEN whose boast 1t is that ye
Come of fathers brave and free, -
Is true freedom but to break
Fetters for our own dear sake,
And with leathern hearts forget
That we owe mankind a debt?
No; true freedom Is to share
All the chains our brothers wear,
And with hearts and hands to be
Earnest to make others free.
"There we hear the true voice of the
American heart. And no words ring
through the Old World at present like
the brave, strong words of Lowell"