Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-04-13
WEBSTER DAVIS RESIGNS.
VIII Go on the Lecture Platform in he
half of the Beers.

half of the Beers.
Washington, April 2.-Webster Davis,
assistant secretary of the interior, has
rendered his resignation. He will go on
the lecture platform in the interest of the
Beers. Mr.. Davis decided to resign
because he accepted an invitation to
deliver lecture on the South African
war, and felt that as an official he could
not express his views with such freedom
as he could as private citizen. The in
vitation was given by citizens of
Washington, and was not inspired in any
way by persons directly connected with
Boer interests. Mr.. Davis said
"It is purely matter of sympathy on
my part. | went to South Africa un-
prejudiced, visited both armies, saw
much of the British soldiers and people,
and also much of the Beers. After
seeing hat did 1 made up my mind
that the cause of the Beers was Just that
the two smallest republics in the world
were struggling against the greatest en-
pire in the world for home, Justice and
independence. The struggle seemed TO
me very unequal. The whole number of
DOcls, t1cu, WOueD anu
children, is not greater than the popula-
ton of the city of Washington, and yet
these brave people have the courage to
put up the greatest fight 10 history
against an empire of four hundred
millions. cor cluded at once that my
sympathies were with those struggling
for liberty, and feel that the American
people should sympathize with them In
their fight for Justice and independence"
when | entered the train at Pretoria
on my return home full two thousand
men and women, mostly women whose
husbands and fathers and sons were at
the front, gathered at the station to bid
me goodby, and as the tears rolled down
many of their faces they made the last
request of me that do everything with
in my power upon my return home tn
let the American people know of their
exact condition; to let them know how
they had been abused and outrageously
nisrepresented by the English. The
English correspondents have no trouble
in getting their dispatches over the cable
lines, as they are controlled absolutely
by the British, while it is impossible fol
information regarding the situation from
the Beers standpoint to reach the
American people.
"If |, free American, did not decide
to listen to their appeals, my conscienc,
would burn, and the faces of those
suffering people, as brave and as nobl,
as God ever let live ia any land, would
haunt me as long as live. | am there
fore determined TO do everything in IN,
humble way to assist them. Their eaus
is Just. and in God is their trust and II
the light of the past history of tn
American people, who went through tn
same struggle, believe the Boer
will win"
Mr.. Davis was asked what course h
would have the people of this countr,
pursue in order to assist the Beers. II
replied
do anything and everything With
their power, and let Great Britain an
the world know that the sympathies o
the American people are not with Grea
Britain, but with the Beers, and 10 tn
interests of humanity and civilization W
should let the world know that such a
unholy war should stop and stop a
once"
Mr.. Davis since his return to thi
country has had numerous invitations t
deliver lectures, but has so far decide
to accept only that given by the citizen
of Washington. This lecture will prot
ably be delivered next Sunday nigh,
MIR, Davis denied that he brought wit
him communication TO this government
from President Kruger. lie admitted
, however, that he had had several cor
ferences with President Mckinley, bu
declined to make public what had passe
, between them. When asked as t
, whether he would go on the stump i
this campaign IN the interest of tn
, Republican party, Mr.. Davis said that h
, did not care to look into the future, an
all that he had within sight at presen
, was his lecture in Washington. He ha
no criticisms to make in regard to tn
administrations attitude toward the wa
in Africa.
Secretary Hitchcock said to-day tbs
, the announcement Of Mr.. Davis's il
, tention to resign was complete surpris
to him. lie had expected that NJ
, Davis would resume his duties, althoug
o he had not seen or heard anything
him since his return until to-day, whe
= he was informed that he was to resigl
:, 1t was said at the interior departmer
. that the best of feeling prevailed betwee
Mr.. Davis and the other officials.