The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-08
SYMPATHY FOR THE BOERS.
Senator Teller spenks in support of
His Resolution.


At the close of the morning business in
the Senate yesterday, Mr.. Teller called up
his resolution expressing sympathy for
the Beers as follows:
Whereas from the hour of achieving indie
pendence people the people OF the United
States have regarded with sympathy the strug
giles of other people to free themselves from Eu
ropean dumination' therefore
Resolved. That We watch with deep and abid-
ing interest the between Great Britain and
the South African Republics. and with tull De
termination to maintain a proper neutrality be-
tween the contending forces, we cannot Withhold
our sympathy from the struggling people Of the
Republics, and it is our earnest desire that the
Government OF the United States, by lis friendly
offices offered 10 both powers. may assist IN BRING
ing the war 10 SPEEDY conclusion IN d manner
honorable 10 both Great Britain and the Atncan
Republics
In laying the resolution before the Sen
ate. Mr.. Teller said that he knew there
was no lack Of resolutions expressing sym
pathy for the Beers. but he dtmanded that
his resolution go to the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
This resolution" he said. lis taken
from the language of a plank in the Re-
publican platform of 1896. The words are
exactly similar, but the Republican plank
says Cuba where I insert the Beers. 1t
is said that we should not express our
sympathy for the Beers. although 1t is
proper TO do SO for other Republics.
Other Boer resolutions have been objected
to because of the wording from cruelty and
oppression yet this surely cannot offend
the sensibilities of any European nation.
Il suppose majority of this body will
vote against this resolution because the
struggle is on another continent"
He spoke of the speeches made by Clay
in 1921 in behalf of just such resolution
in behalf of the South American Republics.
He did not fear the wrath of his Con-
sttuents." said Mr.. Teller. and the reso-
luton was adopted by vote of 13b yeas
TO IL nays. There are members OF this
Senate who are frightened out Of their
wits when such resolution comes up
Yes said Mr.. Mason, they shove
them into the graveyard committee.
AT all events said Mr.. Teller. you
cannot sidetrack my resolution, and the
country will hear of it He then read
from speeches made by Webster in 1924
in favor of the Greek Republic, and said
that if the words were true in 1924 they
are true in 1900.
The struggling Greek may have been
moro esthetic than the struggling Boer,
continued Mr.. Teller but the latter is a
man and a fellow being. Webster argued
for the Greeks because of their ancestry
and because they were struggling for free
dom. i commend Webster's letter on the
struggling Hungarians to those in the Sem
ate who fear to speak for these fighting
for liberty"
Mr. Teller said if the Committee on
Foreign Relations should consider his
resolution as an UnfTiendly act the COM
mittee might report it back with such
amendments as would relieve it of that
character. 1t had been charged. he said,
that the Beers were not struggling for
their independence. but were simply in
rebellion against Great Britain, but he
regarded that as a begging OF the question
unworthy OF serious consideration. The
region now. occupied by the Beers was
native African soil when the Beers went
there. and Great Britain had no claim
either upon the land or upon the people.
Mr.. Teller quoted speeches from Mr.
Gladstone and other public men of Eng
land sud extracts from magazine articles
in support of the position claimed for the
South African Republics.
Mr. Teller eulogized the Dutch people
the ancestors OF the Beers for their grand
struggle against Spain. If it had not been
for them. he said. Spain would have over
run the world and dominated it. not only
politically but mentally and morally. The
Du;chmen had given the most illustrious
example in the worlds history save one.
In conclusion he said:
We ought to declare sympathy with
the Beers. l have said nothing unkind Of
Great Britain, and l do not intend to. ex-
cept to say that ! believe the best senti-
meut in Great Britain is against riiis war.
I believe that il the great and noble
Queen, who lpresides over England had
had her way there would have been no
war If their liberties be taken from
them do not believe the American people
viii say that it is a proud chapter in our
history that We were so cowardly that we
dare not even say we wished it might not
be done & .-
At the conclusion of Mr.. Teller's re-
marks Mr.. Hale announced that he would
like TO make some remarks. but owing to
the anxiety to have the Naval Anpropria-
tion bill considered. he as'.ed that the
resolution be LAID on the table until to-
day, which was done