The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-24
THE BoER FLAG INCIDENT.
Bar HarbOr Sympathizer Dcnounces
the Town Officials


NEW YORK, Sept. 2s-Edward Van
Ness. whose raising of a Boer flag when
the British squadron appeared so in
cersed the citizens of Bar Harbor. Me-,
lat the authorities had 1t torn down,
has written a letter to Charles H. Wood,
First Seleetman of Bar Harbor, in which
he s;,ys:
Tie British North Atlantic Squadron
has probably taken the Boer flag you cap
tured in such a gallant manner on my
lawn to be hung up in Windsor Castle. as
another great trophy and you may be
decorated with the Victoria Cross for
conspicuous vaIor in the presence of the
enemy.
1.-THE only persons benefited by the visit
Of the feet are the proprietors of some
fifteen or twenty barrooms, who, with
your cognizance, openly carry on the
business in contravention of the law yon,
as public officer, were sworn to enforce.
The mob made up of cottage owners who
displayed their opinions and proposed to
stihe mine, made no mistake in selecting
you to go vi ct armis' upon my premises
and commit an act illegal and disgrace
full.
Il raised the Boer flag at sunrise en-
the 4th instant, on a staff on my own
premises, in front of the waters assigned
for the anchorage of the British fleet,
which subsequently came in port. As Ear
as my legal right is concerned. that Is
not open to discussion; but the question
of courtesy is often more important than
the question of right, for / am net priv
ileged by the rules that govern the inter-
course of gentlemen in exercising my
rights in discourteous manner. l
never Joined in any invitation 10 the
fleet, nor was there any public meeting
at which the subject was discussed.
who authorized you or the seif-appoint-
ed board of trade Of the village of Bar
Harbor to invite the British squadron to
anchor here? II this were really village
matter it was the duty of the selsctmen
to submit the question to public consider
alton and discussion before they invited
the fleet to visit US; but the truth is that
neither the village of Bar Harbor. the
Navy Department, nor the United States
Government had right, under the exist
ing circumstances, to invite them, the in
vitation being a violation of the laws of
war and the proclamation Of neutrality
between the belligerents made by the
President at the commencement of hostili-
ties between Great Britain and the Trans
vaal. This very fleet might this day very
properly overhaul any vessel carrying
goods contraband of war to the Beers.
AT the opening of the late ar with
SPAIN the United States fleet being at
Hongkong British port, Admiral Dewey
was ordered away on the ground that It
was contrary to the laws of war to harbot
the war vessels of either of the belliger-
ents. 1t was therefore an act Of grave dis
courtesy toward the Beers to invite feet
of British war vessels into this harbor to
be publicly entertained, accompanied also
by a sympathetic display of their colors in
the streets of the village.
Zone of the first and elearest duties OF
neutral power is not to refuse to one party
that which it grants to the other. There
lore, to put up the British flag and tear
down the Boer flag is not only in contra
vention of the proclamation Of neutrality
but an offensive exhibition Of Partially
condemned by international law and the
courtesy that marks the intercourse OF
civilized States