The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-29
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Exposition building yesterday afternoon
and declared: There is no news from
South Africa today" and then added that
mo news means that God has not per-
mitted the little Dutch republic to be
wiped out in the blood of It's founders;
thank God for no news" cheer went
up from $500 throats that, if 1t could
have echoed through the Boer strong
holds in South Africa, would have car
ried much encouragement to the burgh-
ers.
Only once did any of the speakers re-
fer to expansion or imperialism. This
speaker was Rev. Father Cleary, and he
said, in suggesting that the United
States government should offer its good
offices in ar, effort to end the South Afri-
can war: But it is scarcely consistent
for US to denounce the invasion Of Afri-
ca, and support the invasion of the Phil
ippine islands" This sentiment appear
ed to strike a popular chord, and was
loudly applauded.
Frank D. Larrabee was chairman of the
meeting, and among those upon the
platform with him were Gov. John Lind,
Mayor James Gray, E. S. Corser, ]. M.
Bowler, Judge William Prentiss, of ILL
nois; Rev. Father ]. M. Cleary, L. A.
Rosing Michael Breslauer, Joseph l..
Kiichli, S. W. Sample, Roger Vail, Matt
Walsh, John NJ. Gleason, Edward Hea-
land, W. H. Donahue, James Dwyer, E.
r. Lynch, Judge N. c. Brooks, J. r.
MCGOWAN and Lars M. Rand. 1t was
q few minutes after o'clock when
Chairman Larrabee formally expressed
l.; aiof Of ha u6r ,iOh
done him in according him the chair
manship.
81 was not the first choice for chair
man." said Mr.. Larrabee, nor the sec
ond, nor the fortieth The committee APP
piled to forty-two Republicans ard re-
ceived as many destinations. 1t cannot
be that these Republicans have not
formed an opinion in regard to this
matter. The most charitable view to
take of it, I believe, is that they de-
clined because they had not the formal
courage to express their convictions upon
@ subject upon which their party has not
yet declared itself. But those of US who
are here are met in an effort to influ-
ence the administration at Washington
to act on behalf Of the Beers, Or not to
act in any manner which will aid the
English"
Mayor Gray was received with loud ap-
plause.
There is no news from South Africa
today" said the mayor in beginning his
speech "But you have heard the say
ing No news is good news No news
means that Chamberlain has no victories
to bulletin. No news means that God
has not permitted the little Dutch repub-
lie to be wiped out in the blood Of its
founders Thank God for no news.
I'VE are met today to extend our SYM
patty to the Beers. And why not? Are
they not worthy Of our sympathy and
moral support? And If they cannot get
moral support from the administration,
shall they not have 1t from the Amer
lean people? Because we have a secre-
tary of state imported from London, who
refuses to receive a representative of the
Transvaal, while he sends his own son
to wait upon the British prisoners in Pre-
toria, because the state department is
hopelessly English, don't Y know, is
that any reason why we should sulk to
our tents in scared silence? No The
American people will speak out against
This CHASTITY war, that diamond kings and
heviled politicians are waging in South
Africa The American people will not
suffer the policy of the state department
10 suffocate their opinions.
There was a time when Daniel Web
ster was secretary of state, and in that
time America extended her sympathy to
Greece and to Hungary In their strug-
gle for liberty. 1t is needless to say that
Daniel Webster is no longer secretary of
state Little Brooches sits in the chair
of Webster, Seward, Blaine and Olney,
but we must bear it patiently. Accidents
will happen. From the birth of the re-
public the United States has at all times
extended its good offices towards promot-
Ing peace in the world by the simple proc
ess of public opinion influencing the adj
ministration to act. Our protest against
the war in South Africa is not taking
sides with either party. We do not ex-
pect to dictate, or even suggest, the terms
of peace, but we do as a people, assert
that peace is for the good of both sides
and for the good of the world. We main
tain that all of the avenues Of peace
were not explored before this deplorable
conflict began, and we believe 1t is not
too late to call off the dogs of war We
address our appeal to Great Britain be-
cause she is the aggressor.
mo one doubts that the burghers
would stop fighting tomorrow on any de-
eent terms. They are not a warlike
people. They do not ask extension of
territory. They ask only to be let alone
Shall they not have their little country,
and their language, their religion and
their laws, If they choose? Will the
descendant Of the Puritan who fed from
science sake, derry it? Will the Vir-
ginian, whose forefathers were taxed out
of Britain by the burden of the Napole-
onic wars, deny it? Will any American
citizen who knows that all men have
the right to life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness say that in South Africa
there are men who have not these
rights?
but we are told that it is rot our
hue fn T do q
TO say that this is entirely untrue 1t
Is not good policy for nations to be al
ways sticking their noses into other ma
tons business But we have always
assumed that we have a moral mission
on earth.
1--WE heard this call when we inter
fered between Spain and Cuba; between
Texas and Mexico; between Mexico and
France We shall always hear it when
the American people are compelled to
witness the spectacle of strong nation
expressing a weak. When We do rot
heed that call, we shall no longer be a
homogeneous country. We may still ex-
ist as an empire, or an oligarchy, but
not as a republic, devoted to the idea
that all men are created free and equal
'God sometimes permits nations to read
their lessons written in their own blood.
The red record is visible on Englands
sky today. With 100000 men in South
Africa she cannot conquer $4,000 Beers,
armed, trained and desperate. What
would become Of her If a war like the
present should break out in India? The
English people would see the. toll and
sacriices of the progress of centuries
thrown away. And for what? To get
quicker access to the gold mines of the
Transvaal. England should have wait
ed. She would have gotten peaceful pos
session Of the Transvaal in fifty years,
and fifty years is not long for nation
to wait.