New-York tribune., 1900-05-08
WARMLY DEFENDS BOERS.
PRESBYTERIANS HEAR A HOT DISCUS
SION-WARNER VAN NORDEN AN
SWERS DR.. H A. WOLFF.

An interesting meeting of the Presbyterian Union
OF New-York wound up last night at the Savoy
with resounding broadsides exchanged between DR..
H. A. Wolff. one of the men imprisoned and fined
in 1896 for completely in the Jameson raid and other
revolutionary plots. and Warner Van Norden.
president Of the Bank OF North America the latter
taking the side of the Boer.
Dr.. Wolff is Amherst graduate, and went to
the Transvaal about eighteen years ago. He was
at Kimberley for eight years. and then went to
Johannesburg. His knowledge Of the jameson raid
and Of the Johannesburg Reform Committee is
positive and last night he told the Presbyterians
Of the inside history of the effort to wipe out the
KrUEer regime. Dr. Wolff the who set
up barns and supply houses sixteen miles apart
between Mafeking and Johannesburg. ostersbly
for trading and agricultural purposes. but really,
he explained last night, for the purpose of fur
uishrG Jamesous troopers fresh supplies of am
munitiou and food.
And so" said he with just a tinge OF bitterness,
kruger and his men fined the four leaders $4,000
apiece and the hfty-nine smaller leaders $4,000
apiece. To a so-called charity there paid
sl150G)0 Of the money collected from the Outland-
ers, and ever since that money was collected from
have been trying 10 discover the charity that
received it said Dr. Wolff Then he spoke Of
the dynamite monopoly, the corruption Of the
magistrates and of the Executive Council, and
wound UP one part of his address by saying that
soap was taxed from two to five cents pound but
he added that the all fell the Outlanders
as the Beers did not soap.
Perhaps il was the soap issue that sturg Mr.. Van
Norden. AIr. Van Norden is the sort Of man who
1uld resent slur the Dutch with no
soap for d text. Spotless his shirt bosom last
night, and like a glove did his broadcloth fit him
No sooner had Dr.. Wolff sat down than MI Van
Norden sprang to his feet and said
Mr.. Chairman: In view Of the fact that there
are two sides TO this question, and that wrong
impression might be conveyed If only one side
heard, I should ike il if I4were, allowed a little
time to reply TO the remarks of the speaker
4 move he be allowed the foor,'' said N C
Rogers. chairman of the Executive Committee.
Mr Van Norden stalked up in front Of the min
listers and laymen with such an air of determine
ton that would have been surprised if he
had drawn from each hip pocket a Maxim and
turned them on Dr.. Wolff. With his usual self
possession, ne said:
Mr. Chairman: We have heard great deal here
tonight about the doings OF the Beers but when
II comes right down 10 bottom facts, is simply
a record of the outcroppings OF selfish human nat
ure. These Dutcnmeu in South Africa descend
ants of these who kept Up eighty years war
against Spain, then the first empire of Europe. and
when Spain quit fighting the Dutch she had lost
21000o men and had sunk to the third power in
Europe
Dr.. Wolf laments the collection Of S. COO coo by the
dynamite monopoly. Why. Mr. Chairman. the
Carnegie Steel Company is monopoly than
that. II made last year $40 co., and is going
make still more this year, according 10 Mr.. Car
This city is ruled by worse boss any day than
makers, are the Beers half as bad
BOARD OF Aldermen right here under our very
noses2 1 again, Mr.. Chairman, that all these
things are the outcrOppings OF selfish human nat
ure. As for me I synpathize with the little band
OF Sparl cams, 10000 strong, who are battling with
10000 Of the best soldiers in Europe, do not
FORGET that she is lighting with the same nation
tha- tried rob Of liberty in 1876 (y-r-
batim, and again in 1872
The applause which greeted Mr. Van Norden was
as hearty as that Ehlch previously mad been ac-
speakers shook hands and joked each other
luncheon served.
The meeting was presided over last night b.
Ruch TRggart and the following officers were
President William E srger: vice-presldents
Frank a. Ferris. John Stewart, James TaIcott the
Rev. John Bancroft Devins, Noah c. Rogers, the
Rev. Dr.. George T PUrVes and the Rev. Dr.. J.
Wilbur Chapman. treasurer, Henry T. Bronson;
secretary, Henry r. Elliott; Executive Committee
the Rev. Douglas Putnam Birnie James q. Cannon
Ward T. Chamberlain. Edwin j Gles. the Rev
DR.. Howard Agnew Johnston Willis z. Lougee,
the Rev. Dr. Donald Sage Mackay. Hammond
Odell the Rev. Dr. George L. Shearer. the Rev.
James .. Steele and Samuel Woolverton.
The report OF \. 9. Rogers CT the Executive
Committee, announced an increase Of fifty in
bership in the union during the last year