Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-06-11

Peter LOuter Vessels, special COM
missioner of the South African repub-
lies. were the guests of Davenport
yesterday. The entire day was given
over to a public demonstration in
their honor, beginning at 10 O'Clock
in the morning with large parade,
in which societies from Davenport
and various surrounding towns par
ticipated, the Rock Island Turner So
ciety. headed by Bleuer's band, being
in line.
The city was gaily decorated with
the American and Boer colors.
In the afternoon there were fully
five thousand people gathered at
Schuetzen park. where rousing mass
meeting was held. Before the meet
ing was called to order Envoy Wes-
sells held an informal reception, shak-
ing hands and conversing with as
many as it was possible for him to
meet in the time allotted to him
Envoy Vessels was born in the Or
ange Free state and educated at Gray
college, Bloemfontein. He is one of
the directors of the National bank of
the Orange Free State, and has served
on every important committee in the
republic, including the membership
of the commission on war in the
prest conflict.
Given Warm Reception.
Mr.. Vessel, was greeted with
applause that was loud and long
when he arose to address the as
sem blage at the park, being intro
duced by ex Mayor George Baker,
who was master of ceremonies. MIR.
Vessels uses excellent English, and
is an easy and interesting talker. He
said his people were not asking aims
of America. neither did they want
Americans to go down into South
Africa and fight for them. All they
were here for was to present their
side Of the story, taxi g the American
people as a jury to say wheth-
er they were right or wrong
in opposing with arms the war.
prompted solely by greed. Eng
land was carrying on. If the
sympathies of the American people
were with the Beers, Mr.. Vessels
wanted them-the people, who con-
trolled the governmenr-to demand
of the president at Washington to call
q halt on England That would be
sufficient. He wanted the American |
people to speak, give their answer
one way or the other, and not be like |
the man who sat on the river bank |
while another man was drowning and |
said, I'm sorry for you; Lord have
mercy on your soul"
The other speakers were City At
torney J. X. Scott, of this city, who |
held that four -fifths of the American |
people were on the side of the Beers, |
whose cause was just and would |
eventually triumph. Gustav Donald,
of Rock Island. who delivered an adj
dress in German; Mayor Ferd Heinz
and A. P. MEG uirk.
Envoy Vessels spoke again at the
evening meeting at Turner opera
house the other speakers being ex-
Mayor Vollmer and Judge NJ. j.
Wade, of Iowa City. At the afternoon
and evening meetings the Boer ma
tional hymn was sung.
The Messrs. Vessels left last night
for Colum bus, Ohio.
Resolutions of Sympathy.
The following resolutions were
evening meetings:
I'VE hold these truths to be self
evident, that all men are created
equal. that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienabIe
rig hts; that among these are life. Hb-
srty and the pursuit of happiness.
That to secure these rights, govern
ments are instituted among men, de-
irving their just powers from the
consent OF the governed. That when
aver any form of government be-
comes destructive of these ends it is
The right of the people to alter or
abolish it,"
After 1874 years of free and indepen-
lent government. during which some