The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-21

liberty and the pursuit OF happiness to thu
survivors.
You may say this is o dangerous sen
timelt. / for one have not reached ths
time when. for fear of displeasing English
arrogance or British injustice. l will bt
silent. l speak as n citizen today. few
days ago upon the floor of the Senate, b,
direct implication, the assertion was made
that our nation stood in danger OF wal
with Germany. I do not believe such dan
ger exists. If there be in the near future
with England and not with Germany.
Why This War:
why this war upon the Beers? Thi
pretext is so flinsy that even an honest
Erglishman cares not to refer to it. EL-
glish greed drove the Boer from Cape Col
ony to the Orange Free State and to the
Transvaal. Again and again he was forced
to leave behind him the home and hearth
stone he had builded by reason of British
usurpation and tyranny. He desired to b.
let alone to dwell in his own way. accord
ing to the faith of his fathers. AMI in the
simple government he would choose for
himself and possibly it would have been his
fate to have dwelt in peace, without English
Interference, had not a heritage of woe
come to him-the discovery OF gold. The
moment it was found that the. distant
home of the Boer was rich in the yellow
metal. the Englishman in his greed reach
ed out for it. They came swarming in
great numbers: arrogant as ever. demand
ing to be admitted to citizenship upon
conditions which no self-respecting Re-
public could grant.
IAN Engl!shman would not dare to
make application for citizenship in the
American Republic upon the same condi-
tions be would have exacted from the
Beers. And why? Because we are strong
and they are weak. And what EXCUSE Ia
offered for this wrongdoing? In aristo-
cratic circles we hear the potential whis-
per that civilization would be benefited
by the advance of the Englfshman. II 1t
be civilization to disregdRd every right of
humanity and transgresssevery law Of God.
then l say let CIVILIZATION halt for mo-
ment and let truth and Justice reign. 1t
were better for humanity to- have life with
liberty. surrounded bfs stern simplicity.
than to have it bound. BY manacles re-
strained imposition. even though the
manacles be precious and the bauble bright
and fair to look upon. For myself, 1 de-
sire liberty not only for the American na-
ton. but would have its influence go out
TO the aspiring nations and peoples of the
earth and let each and all enjoy the same
great advantage we ourselves have None
are worthier than the Beers, they have
our unrestrained sympathy. 1 hope We
may give them more An Administration
cannot long withstand the honest express
sion of the will CT the people. / trust that
in this instance there may be unison Ct
movement among the people and thase
who make our government.
Whatever may be the result Of the
diplomatic part Of your mission, rest as
sured of this, you cannot go to any city,
town, village, or hamlet in any Of the
forty-ive States Of this UHion in which
you will not be received with kindly greet
ing, with generous hospitality, and the
heartfelt wish that you may attain now,
thet which will come to you either soon
or late. beyond cavil or question. the right
to govern yourselves without English in
reference.
Send greetings to your people from our
people. tell them to continue the good
fight, let no reverses dishearten nor defeat
ab2te the consistency and courage in the
cause OF liberty which they have shown.
For you believe and we have faith in a
Divinity that shapes the way Of ma
tions and men, rough hew them as they
may and l cannot believe that this di-
vine power will long permit insolenee and
arrogance, perfdy and treachery, cruelty
and barbarism as exemplihed in the con-
duct of the English Government in tho
pursuance Of this diabolical var. TO
triumph. l believe. too, that there will
arise a spirit in this nation which will
demand of its Administration short shrict
for English alliances. and a ret IN to
that spirit which leads us to give SYM
pathy and help to those who would ac-
complish freedom and f-government."
Volt eyto rofa 10, fro
dom for the Beers as well as for the
Americans brought forth a query from
hearer, What about the Filipinos?"
Aye, and the Filipinos, too" answered
the Senator. and the sentiment aroused
one of the greatest outbursts Of enthu-
siasm Of the meeting.
EnIOsized by Cochran.
The next speaker was Bourke Cochran
CT New York. His address was eloquent
and epigrammatic. He scornfully rallied
at the attitude of Great Britain in dealing
with weaker powers. This war is being
carried on by money changers who want
men 70 fall that stocks MAY RISE" he
shouted with dramatic fervor. In conclu
sion he delivered a magnificent eulogy
upon the Beers, whom he termed the no.
blest heroes that the world has ever seen.
Mr.. Cochran said:
with all who are here tonight bid
these delegates welcome to this shore.
bid them welcome to this land of liberty:
| believe they will find 1t land Of reali-
zation Nobody has ever set foot upon these
shores in search OF liberty that has not
found 1t. Sometimes we are asked in hes
itating tones by our friends. What can We
suggest that this country can do7 1t is
perhaps proper that We should begin with
the question OF interest. Are We without
interest in this question?
You must have observed that within
the last few weeks there have been great
many illusions to the Monroe Doctrine.
We/have been told We have been obliged
10 fight for it. Where Is the perpetuation
II the Monroe Doctrine threatened? Where
but in Canada? II England and Russia
were embroiled tomorrow and an attempt
were made by the latter power to land
troops in Canada. would not the attempt
be feasible? Troops once landed in
Canada there would be an absolute right
to make Canada part Of the Russian
Empire. Where then is the power to
this Monroe Doctrine?"
Continuing. Mr.. Cochran said that this
war in South Africa might be the occasion
Of results England never dreamed of. 1t
might be that the spirit OF republicanism,
not the taint of monarchism, would spread
and change the map Of the world. The
English Government and the English peo-
pie were two vastly different quantities.
We have never had quarrel with the
English people. but We have had to
draw. the sword against the Eng
ish ministry. Today the masses were
trooping in the streets singing Rule
Britannia" joining with the nobility in
the world of the Empire. Their
voices sounded everywhere. But some
where, in some way. a still small voice |
would still be heard crying ont against |
his war as it cried out against Warren |
Hastings and the East India Company.
John Morley and James Bryce could not |