Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-17
PLEA FOR THE Beers.
Addresses by Hons. c. W. Van
SicIen and VIM. Alden Smith.
Mass Meeting Mt the Academy of Music
Sunday Afternoon for the Benefit of tho
Widows and Orphans of tho Boers "A
Boer Admiral.

The "Boer meeting Sunday
afternoon was very we'll attended, but
not so largely as its promoters had
hoped. The feeling that a meeting.
purely secular in character, should not
be attended by Christian people on the
Sabbath, kept ministers and great
many church members away. and at
1880 O'clock there We're probably not
more than eight hundred people in the
Academy of Music. although the sun
was bright and the air was crisp and
bracing.
Promptly at the hour Mr.. Hugh C.
Miller introduced Mr.. George w. Van
Siclen, secretary andJtreasurer of the
Boer Relief Association Of the United
States, whose appearance was greeted
with liberal applause.
Mr.. Van Sicklen, in appearance, is n
typical Hollander. He lost no time in
beginning what proved to be an inter-
esting and instructive presentation of
the cause Of the Transvaalers, by eN-
hibiting Il small Boer flag, containing
four stripes, the red. white and blue
being parallel to each other. while the
green is to the left and perpendicular
to the others. He stated that the Beers
fearing white race, with no faint of
negro or other inferior blood, and cited
Senator Chauncey Depew, OF New
York, is Il typical Boer. by descent.
He said that the followers of President
Kruger were n praying people, who
crossed the Tugela river singing n
hymn of Martin Luther, with which his
audience was familiar. and that no
people who went into battle singing
hymns aud psalms and praying had
been defeated and enslaved. In sup
port of this claim he pointed to the
English led by Cromwell. and the Ger
mans by Won Moltke. He predicted the
triumph of the Boer arms In this con-
test. and declared that between Lord
Roberts army and Pretoria. the capt.
tai of the Republic of the South African
Republic. there were three lines of
trenches, flanked by almost impossible
mountains. and that before entering
Pretoria, the British would have to
cross a trench composed of the bodies
of Beers who preferred death to per-
hitting foreign foe to enter their cap
ital city.
Mr.. Van Siclen told of the visit of
General Joubert and wife to his home
in New York. and the latters discovery
of British red coats on MaJuba Hill.
He next gave an account of the last
Presidential election in the Transvaal,
! Joubert by 543 majority in a vote of
10000. In the Transvaal boys of 16
years of age are allowed to vote. The
Transvaalers had q purely republican
form OF government, and not an oil
garchy, rs some claimed. He had
nothing harsh to say about the English
as a race, but Joseph Chamberlain, the
Colonial Secretary. and the stock
brokers of London had brought on this
war, he said. He was very severe on
Mr.. Chamberlain, demonstrating that
his claims were all shams. AS exam
pies, he asserted that what is called
custom house tax has really to be paid
by the Beers in the increased cost of
imports, and that while the Beers
charge 21a per cent. for the privilege of
digging gold in that country. the Ca
nadianS charge 10 per cent, and Cecil
Rhodes charges so per cent. right there
in South Africa. He said the meaning
of the word "paramountcy," which the
English want to exercise in the Trans
vaal, Is II am bigger than you-get off
the earth"
Mr.. Van Siclcn further said that the
Beers. in the matter of naturalization,
copied the form of their oaths from the
United States, and that Mr.. Chamber
lain wants left out of 1t that clause
which reads: Il renounce all alliegi-
ance to other rulers. etc." the purpose
being TO get citizenship for English sub
jects and then turn the country over
to England.
Mr.. Chamberlain's talk of religious
oppression was another sham as relg-
ious liberty in the largest sense was al
lowed In the South African Republics.
DIR. Leyds, the Transvaal diplomatic
agent. was Roman Catholic. and nu-
merous Hebrews and Catholics were
fighting in the Roer army.
II am n Republican," said Mr.. Van
Siclen. and 1 voted for Mr.. Mckinley,
but 1 would be glad to see him exhibit
The courage of Cleveland, who said to
the British Lion Keep out of Vene-
zuela.' The speaker closed with IAN
appeal for assistance in caring for the
widows and orphans of the Beers. He
was frequently appiauded, and when
he read q poetic description of Joe
Chamberlain he brought down the
house. Some OF his references were
caustic and others quite humorous.
While not an orator. his plain, practi-
cal and instructive talk was we'll re-
ceived.
HON. WM. ALDEN SMITH.
The boy Congressman" from Ne
braska. Hon. William Alden Smith. was
next presented. and captured his audi
ence by paying a graceful com piiment
to Virginia as the Cradle of Liberty"
and the breadth of liberaity of the
harbor of Norfolk, which had so favor
ably impressed him that whenever his
vote was desired to secure a liberal ap-
preparation from Congress it could be
had for the asking
Mr.. Smith said he was native of
Michigan. and first visited Virginia In
company with the Governor of his
State. with whom he came to the York
town Centennial, since when he had
loved Virginia and Virginians. Your
State is a grand ONE said he. land the
city of Norfolk is n live and progress
sive city, with harbor in which flags
Of every country may be seen On en-