The evening times., 1900-02-06
THE SOUTH AFR1cAH WAR.
England Chsr'pioninFs LfDerty. and
Equality In Fighting thu, Roer.

4 n "a
Equality in Fighting the Beers.
To the Editor Of The Times.
II the merits OF the Beers deep-laid
scheme to drive the British cut Of Africa
and 10 establish Il so-chIled republic. based
on their barbarous principles. are 70 be
correctly judged il VIII be important TO
remember a few facts in the case The
Cape Colony was formerly a Dutch settle
nent It introduced and maintained a
crue' system Of slavery. The colony was
cedet 10 England during The great world
struggle with Napoleon. The Dutch VINO
accepted the British flag. were given the
rights Of citizens. They have a majority
OF the inhabitants Of that colony. and have
frequently controlled the government for
this Cape is governing community
But slavery was abolished when English
rule was introduced and a portion of the
Dutch went out into the wilderness to
found new state. ir which every man
should have the right 70 use and abuse as
he pleased his own slaCes. Their descen-
dants Of today are Of the same mind IN
III about a year ago marriage was not
legal among the black population Of the
Transvaal. These Bible-reading. Psalm
singing, piOus Beers COMPELLED the poor
natives, whose country they Wrested
from them. to live like Wild beasts with
VINO, today. are not allowed 20 travel
from place 10 place without a pass grant
ed, If he pleases, by the field cornet or
local magistrate. The Dutchman Of the
Transyaal believes that he and his are the
chosen people and that God has given the
colored races into his hand as he gave the
Canaanites into the hands OF the Israel
ties. He believes that he has a monopoly
Of religion. II he sees three persons stand
inn ton hF.a h..
Christian tthe DutChmaul a rOYiuck
(red neck or Englishmanj and some black
trash (the nativel." The way in which in
their wars with the natives. whose lands
they seized the BOers destroyed men.
women, and children by shooting and by
far more brutal means Is recorded in his
tory, but is too sickening 70 repeat
We speak Of the BoeF republic" How
sadly that word has been misunderstood, I,
And nowhere is il liable TO be more mis-
I understood than in this country where il
means government of the people and by
the people" But IL crimes have been
wrought in the name Of liberty" so have
they in the name Of the republic The
Greek republics" were but selfish and
jealous Oligarchies. in which the masses
had no control France was a republic
when the first Napoleon was .'First Con
sui. and when the third Napoleon was
President" And the Transvaal has been
a republic in which only a small minority
OF the inhabitants have had any voice
and in which the power has been kept in
the hands Of a select and prejudiced class.
However. il may still be argued that
this does not constitute a reason for armed
interference on the part OF Great Britain.
But there Is much more 20 be said Not
10 mention other facts. these two are
pertinent once The whole TransyaaI peO-
pie we're saved from being wiped out
by the Zulus by timely British inter
venJiOn- AT another time after they
had submitted themselves 10 British
government and we're iyiug the Brit
ish flag their independence was given
back 20 them, subject TO two limi-
tations. The first was such right Of
communication. representation. and re-
monstrance concerning their internal
affairs as must be claimed by any
neighboriug power II a man viii throw
lighted matches among his hayricks his
neiEhbor. whose farm yard is just over
the hedge. may surely claim the right 10
protest. The other and even more i'm
pCrrant was that the Trausvaal should not
conclude treaties with foreign powers
without the consent Of Great Britain
study Of the map Of Africa viii show the
necessity Of this 20 the safety Of the en-
pire. The region OF the TransyaRl and
British possessions. except where they
touch the Portuguese territory. which has
its ocean outlet In Delagoa Bay. BY this
door war material Of ali sorts and merceu-
airy soldiers in large numbers have been
brought into the Trausvaal Bur il has
been done with a certain amount Of Sc
crecy. II the Transvaal possessed com
piete independence and were able to make
foreign treaties there would be nothing to
prevent the introduction Of French or
Russian army inIO the very centre Of the
British territory 20 would be as though
the S-ate of Indiana or Ohio could make
treaties with foreign powers. having al
the same time an open road through for
eiEn territory 10 the seaboard The United
States would spend its last dollar and sac
ritce ITS last man. II necessary. TO prevent
any such possibility And il would De
right Yet this is the danger TO which
the Empire in South Africa would be ex-
posed II England tolerated within its b0r-
ders any independent government
But even this Is not all. There Is
abundant evidence that for years past the
leaders OF the TTansvaaI have been aim
ing. not only az independence for their
own COuutU- but al Dutch supremacy in
South Africa by a combination Of states
perfectly tnde1endeny of the British pow er.
They have been hoping 40 drive the Brit
ish into the sea and establish an inde-
pendent republic hostile 10 British liberty
end civilization On British territory. The
British nation viii not sud ought not 10
tolerate THAI until its last ship has been
sunk and its last dollar expended Any
one can look al the map and note the Te-
lation Of South Africa TO Great Britain
on the one hand. and 90 India Australis.
and other dependencies OF the Empire on
the other and he viii see that England
cannot afford 10 let her lines CT commuui-
caticn be broken al the cape We fought
for the union of the States forty years ago.
EneIand IS lighting for the unity and Per-
petualism Cf her Empire today and her de-
feat would seemingly be the greatest SET
back To the progress On eibeTTy ana CiviiiZa-
tiOn that could happen
Now it is tha all classes of Enslislmen.
Scotchme-n. Canadians. Australians. lCval
Irishmeu. and even West Indians and West
Africans are determined 10 see this contro-
versy through. and are eage< TO help in
its settlement Ard this viii account for
the fact that the Christian Churches in
the British Empire are practically united
on the subject 4 minority there is which
is opposed 10 the war. and in thar min
oriJy are a few distinguished names. and
as usual a section Of the Irish politicians
is using the opportunity to embarrass, IL
IL can, the government OF The country.
But the overwhelming majority balicves
the war to be necessary. 10 be just. and 10
be likely 10 promote the ultimate freedom
and prosperity OF the races inhabiJing
LE IRVINE.
Washington. Feb. 8
CURRENT HUMoR.