The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-01-05

two countries This can be done, as the
 treaty itself states without it's being
 claimed to be offensive by either party,
 even after hostilities have begun.
 It is true that our president states in
 his message that this government has maintained an attitude of neutrality We have remained faithful to the pre- cept of avoiding entanglinS alliances as 1 to affairs not of our direct concern. Had it been suggested that the parties to the quarrel would have welcomed
 any arbitrary expression of the hope of the American people that war might be averted, good offices would have been gladly rendered." I regret that I can- not agree with the statements of the
 president, either in their spirit or their letter. It is not true that this govern
 ment has maintained an attitude of
 neutrality. The sympathy of our elect
 ed servants at Washington, who call
 themselves the government has been
 expressed directly and directly i'll favor
 of Great Britain. An example is the
 appointment of the son of Secretary of
 State Hay as ambassador to the repub-
 lie. On the way down to assume his
 new duties young Hay stopped in Eng | land and hobnobbed with the English
 nobility, in order, no doubt, to better carry out the spirit of strict neutrality. | The tradition of the United States, inn | pressed upon us by Washington in his farewell address, was not to avoid en- tangling alliances as to affairs not of
 our direct concern;' it was to ''avoid
 entangling alliances" Nor does the
 peace convention of The Hague, either directly or indirectly, say or intimate or require the parties to the quarrel to welcome any arbitrary expression of the hope of the intervening power that war might be averted' Nothing of the kind. Under that convention, to make it of any effect, of any value whatever in this world, it is the duty of a great neutral power, like the United States, to offer it's good services without waiting to be asked, without waiting to find out whether such offer would be welcomed; and we know that from the beginning the South African republic has desired and offered to submit to arbitration all the questions between that country and Great Britain.
 If the American eagle has not become possessed of a chocolate eclair back bone (so tersely described by a great living American soldier author and statesman), long ago would our cOun- try, the most powerful country in the world, have interfered in behalf of a sister republic and in matter which is a direct concern of this country. It Is of direct concern to us that the rule of monarchy, class and of caste. should not prevail anywhere on this earth against the principles of independence. And further it is of direct concern to this country that the great British en1- pire, with it's power of true civilization. should not hasten to it's own ruin.
 This war will last at least two years unless some power intervene, and should Great Britain prove victorious in the end, which is not certain, she will be so weakened vitally. that she will be- come the prey of the heathen and the Slav.
 Homes s. Cummings, the first speak CT. was the most eloquent speaker of | the evening. He spoke very feelingly | in favor of the Boers and at times aroused his hearers to a high pitch of | excitement. He said that when our issued the Declaration of | Independence in the early history of | our country. they declared that the | people of the South African Republic | were never subjects of England. Great | Britain to-day, he said, seems for some reason to think that she Is entitled to | American sympathy. They tell us that | we are bound to Great Britain by ties of language, blood and affection Blood l or no blood, when it comes to choosing between aristocracy and democracy cy, the American people will choose the latter every time.
 The Hon Joseph Sheldon of this city was called upon for few remarks just before the close of the meeting He too, expressed himself in favor of the Boers in their struggle against Eng land. He deprecated the possibility of m Anglo-American alliance, and said that England in seeking this now show ad that she recognized our strength and as a nation He pointed out n the civil war that England took the side of the shareholders as fact show ng that England had not the real in erests of this country at heart. At he close or ms FefndfKS Wn1cn were short, he was loudly cheered.
 Chairman Troup before closing the session read a letter of regret at his to be present from Attorney Charles F. Bollmann of this city. At orney Bollmann expressed sympathy with the Boer cause in his communica- ion MT. Troup after reading the let CT proposed vote of thanks to the packers of the evening for their kind less in addressing the meeting which vas accordingly given, He announced hat in accordance with the resolution which had been adopted earlier in the vening he would appoint committee O receive contributions for the Boer und in this city. He would first confer $ with the general committee. he said nd would then appoint committee nan in each ward of the city, who would appoint assistants and conduct i careful house to house canvass.