The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-16
4 CENTURY OF WRONG.

Congressman Lester is in receipt OF
an interesting letter from an American
now resident in the South African re-
public. which gives a picture Of the
war as il appears To one on the ground
and who is evidently a strong sympa-
thiZer with the Beers. The letter reads
as follows:
johannesburg. 5. a. r.
December s. 1898.
Hon. Rufus F. Lester, Washington.
u. G:
NV Dear Sir: You will remember
ms when / mention our mutual irIend.
Z. a. Silva. through whom you wrote
a letter for me four years since. / send
you through this mail a book called. a
Century Of Wrong written By the
Transvaal secretary Of state. Mr..
ReitZ, which 1 beg you to read care
fully. as il is a true and concise STATE
ment OF his country since the f~S.
settlement by the Beers. No doubt.
congress will take some steps relative
70 T~ransvaal affairs after the Christ
mas holidays and / beg OF you. "a one
who knows the true state of affairs. to
stand by this country with all your
ability and strength. even 10 the dec
laration of war against Great Britain.
of all the cruel. unjust and damna-
bic wars forced upon the noble Boer
race. by wrong upon wrong ana lie
upon lie, p~erpe.rated by the million
aire and backed up by Sir Alfred Mil
ner, Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain and Cecil
JOhn Rhodes. this is the most terrible
and unholy. Think of our S~truggle for
independence against these same Brit
isherS and remember that they are
using the same cowardly tactics
against this country, and as a love- Of
freedom and justice you viii nevsg
hesitate. Knowing your love OF justice
and fair play. l know you Will stand
by right against might.
If the United States can do no1h-
ing more all this country asks is alb
solute and entire neutrality. The mali
closes shortly. 50 / will close with a
hasty synopsis:
The Beers have lost no battles ex-
cept a little reverse at ElanSlayt. The
British have about 200 Of our men pris-
oners and we nave more than ZOO OF
theirs. We have lost about $50 or 30
killed and w~ounded-the British 1890
killed and many more ounde This
seems incredible, but ii is true. You
would understand If you could know
the Boer style Of fighting. CThey viii
surely VIM Now. as to cowardly and
barbarous conduct, first, the British
have brought thousands Of Ghoorkas
from India, and are enliSting and arm
ing Kaffirs as soldiers. (See Mr.. Joseph
Chamberlain's speech in the house OF
promising the contrary But
an EnSlSn promise goes Tor nOth!nS-D
At Mafeking the British had no less
than six white flags or red CROSSES n
different parts Of the town. and the en-
tire army was protected by them. So
is the case at Kimberley and at Lady
smith Even now al Ladysmith they
are sleeping on neutral ground. st
aside by the two commandments for WO-
men. children and wounded. They used
the white flag or armored trains 20 re-
place railway track destroyed by he
republican forces. etc. etc. These facts
are well known and have been proven
by Of witnesses. The British
well know the consequences If his
~disgraceful conduct reaches the outer
world mr. to offset IL they have accus-
ed the Beers Of similar d Lie..
all lies, The BOer Is a brave. Dbl
and generous foe. God be with the
right and shed victory on the arms OF
the republican forces. is my earnest
prayer.
You can publish all or a part OF his
II you wish / swear TO the cOntentE-
Pardon hurry and a broken pen.
Your friend.
IT. p. HODGES"
Y NJ