The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-03
SUNDAY, JUNE 3. 1900.
THE MARCH OF PROGRESS.

There is profound sympathy throughout
the length and Breadth Of this land with
the brave Beers Of South Africa who have
been conquered by the overwhelming forces
of the British Whatever may be sud IN
Britain's behalf, and we have tried TO snow
through these columns that Ihere are two
sides TO the question. it is none the less
q fact that the Beers fought Tor What lhsy
believed to be their rights, and that they
fought as heroically and as bravely as ever
men fought for q cause. They fought
against big odds, and AID VINO reasoned
with them must have known that they
were leading a foTiorn hope. Yet they
fought with the enthusiasm and courage
of those who believed that victory was TO
perch upon their banners, and they have
made a record of which any people might
he proud. We say that such gallant
struggle necessarily awakened the sym
pathy OF Americans who love liberty and
local seif-goyernnent. and who admire
those who have the spirit To contend for
these things.
But President kruger and his associates
in government pursued course which
could led in this day Of pro-
gress and civilization only 10 one result.
1t has been said that if no gold mines had
been discovered in the Transvaal there had
been no war between the South African
republics and Great Britain. That may be
true for without the gold mines there
would have been very few Outlanders. and
yn,. r
ton. But these rich mines attracted thous-
ands and thousands Of British subjects
who settled in President Kruser's coun-
try and accumulated property. They turn
I'D barren waste into a land of plenty,
they paid the taxes and enriched the
treasury. and enabled q poor government
TO pay its President $40, 600 a Year and to
expend large SUMS Of money on public
Improvements. These men were, TO use
a shop term, stockholders in the Transvaal
corporation, yet they We're not permitted
TO take part in the administration OF az
fairs. they were taxed heavily without be-
ing granted the right of representation,
and it was simply impossible that this
sort of thing should go on
Another thing The Beers believe in
slavery, and while under coercion they
abolished the slavery law, in point OF tact,
under their apprentice system slavery was
continued in practice, and IN this day slav-
cry will not be tolerated by civilization
Through the agency at the gold mines
civilization marched into President
Kruger's domain. and civilization and pro-
gress always go hand-in-hand. The Beers
were willing 10 accept all the DecuniaTy
benefits of this progress and these civiiiz-
sng influences, but they were not willing
to concede anything. They were ever
ready to fight and they did fight for what
they regarded as their rights. but when it
came to the rights of others, that was
another question
There is a great deal of idle talk about
manifest destiny" but call it what you
will, there Is a Divinity which shapes our
ends. Progress is ren1orseiess. Progress
makes no compromises with old fogyism.
Progress IS aggressive and those who would
not be trarnpled under foot must march
with the procession. There was a time
when this great country was inhabited by
wild Indians. The land belonged to them
and they were. in their respective spheres
r,aonarchs OF all they surveyed. But wher
the light Of civilization dawned in this land
the red men began to recede. When pro
gress came the red men did not accept it
lie was, therefore, either tranapied dows
or driven farther and farther into the
West, until to-day progress is spread al
over the land and the red man Is scarcel,
more than memory.
For years Cuba and the Philippines wer.
held in check 10y Spanish rule. But tina:
rule could not continue forever American
progress found its way into Cuba and Int
the Philippines, and Spanish rule is non
a thing Of the past.
II WAS progress that converted Jaoa,
from se1ni-baroarons nation into civil
HEED nation and brought her into the sis
beshood Of nations.
ca.na had tie same opportunity. but sh,