The Irish standard., 1900-04-14
DAVIS ON THE BoER WAR
His Speech at National Capital Last
Sunday.


c., last Sunday night, to listen to All
address on the war in South Africa
from the Hon. Webster Davis, ex-as-
sistant secretary of the interior, who has
lust returned to the United States from
that country. Every available bit Of
standing room in the opera house, the
largest auditorium in the city, was filled
with auditors, who paid close attention
to every word uttered by the speaker
and manifested their appreciation OF his
telling points by frequent and generous
applause. Simple decorations OF the
United States flag and the red, white
and black bars with the field OF green,
the emblem of the Beers, were suspend
ed over the stage.
A score or more of public men, main
" senators and representatives in con-
gress, occupied seats on the stage and
in the audience, among whom were the
following: Senators Clay, Daniel, Tel
Ter, Bacon, Allen and Mason, and Rep
resentatives Talbert, Jett, Littleheld,
Ridgley, Robinson OF Indiana, Burke
of Texas, Ball, Gilbert, Latimer, Cox
of Tennessee, Cowherd, Clark OF Mis-
souri,, Bartholdt and Shafroth.
Mr.. Davis was introduced by Mr.. 2.
T. Moran, the chairman of the execu-
tive committee and national treasurer OF
the A. o. H., who made few intro
ductory remarks. Mr.. Davis delivered
his remarks in an off-hand, easy style,
referring to his notes only occasionally,
and mainly when it was necessary to
read an extract from some document
or speech. He spoke for about two
hours, and at his close was warmly con-
graduated.
Years ago, Mr. Davis said, the Beers
planted the seed OF liberty in the fer
tile valleys of the Cape OF Good Hope,
where strong national spirit developed
as early as 1906, when the colony passed
into the hands Of England. Soon there
after i'll feeling arose between Brton
and Boer. Mr.. Davis entered upon an
exhaustive review of the relations be-
tween the Beers and the British gov
eminent from that time to the present.
He described the great trek north
wafd, after the emancipation of their
slaves, the foundation OF the republic OF
Natal, and its absorption by England
and the rise of the South African re-
public. England's acquisition OF the dia-
mond fields at Kimberley, Mr.. Davis
characterized as transaction without
a parallel "for cupidity, dishonor and
injustice" OF the material growth OF
the Dutch republics Mr.. Davis said:
"Cities with all the modern improve
ments sprang up on the veldt and in
the valleys as if by magic, and every
where the church and school house told
the story of the peoples progress. 1t
is no wonder the Beers became intense
ly proud OF their homes in the Orange
Free State and the Transvaal, and well
may they feel that pride, for they have
their homes in one OF the grandest belts
of valley, mountain and plain that the
world has in it.
"But finally this period Of peace and
rest was broken by the discovery OF
gold in the Transvaal. Then it was
that the British government deter
mined to seek pretext for obtaining
control of the richest gold fields in the
world as it had before secured the rich
est diamond fields. That this is the rea
cause for the present war no one car
doubt who will but listen to the fire..
quent remark made by Englishmen ir
South Africa, as we'll as in England
that 'the gold mines in the Transvaal
are worth fighting for and we are going
to keep on fighting until we get them
The British love for gold is proverbial
Wherever gold has been discovered
there the British have turned a wstfu
and longing eye. When gold was dis
covered in Alaska, only few years
ago, it will be remembered how quickly
an effort was made to extend the Can.
adam line far enough westward to TAX.
in the gold fields. And no doubt had
the British government not been an,
ticipating the present troubles over the
gold fields in the Transvaal there would
have been trouble on the part of the
United States government in keeping
control of the gold fields in Alaska"
Referring to the Jameson raid and
certain incidents connected with it, Mr.
Davis asked:
"How long would the people of oul
republic stand it if foreigners from an,
country in the world were to come here
and after getting rich in our gold mine:
would undertake to control our govern.
ment, and failing to do so would en-
deavor to destroy it?
mo flimsier pretext for robbery anc
murder ever emanated from the wicked
est cabinet in Europe in its palmies
days than the British demand for FIVE
year franchise in the South African re
public. If this demand were granted
not an Englishman in the Transvaa
would renounce allegiance to the quee,
and swear eternal allegiance to the gov
eminent of the South African republi,
as against the British government. TIL,