The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-30
GERMAN SYMPATHY FOR BorRs.


Washington dispatch says that DR..
Pretorius. of ST. Louis has forwarded to
Secretary of State Hay money and a letter
expressing sympathy with the Beers and
asking that the money be sent to President
Kruger, through the American consul at
Pretoria. This request is made apparently
without any consideration for obligatious
of the UNITED States as a neutral or the
embarrassment that might follow such an
act. DR.. Pretorius is one of the most
prominent Germans in the United States
but ne is not the only one who seems de
sirous OF becoming conspicuous or
ganizer of American sympathy for the
Beers. In fact, German-Americans consti-
tute large part Of the Boer sympathizing
element in the United States. Their right
TO hold and express these views is not for
"a moment to be questioned, though thcy
should not, as DR.. Pretorius has done, ask
the United States government to become
the vehicle for expressing their sympathies.
But, while conceding their rights in this
regard. one may be permitted to wonder
IL
in the place of Great Britain. No
European government has been more
aggressive in prosecuting its policy of
civilization and imperial expansion, to
the extent of it's ability, than Ger
many. and while she has no war in
Africa on her hands at present, she has
had and Is liable to have again. When
it comes will German-Americans be found
asking the United States to express SYM
pathy for Germany's enemies? In short
is there not ground for a mild suspicion
that German-American sympathy for the
Beers consist as much of anti-British
prejudice as it does of Boer sympathy?
And if this anti-British prejudice is based
on the tact that Great Britain is a land
grabbing power it may be said that Ger
many is something OF land-grabber her
self Net to speak of Alsace-Lorraine and
other territory appertaining to the empire
proper, during the last few years she has
acquired by seizure and occupation extern
sive possessions in Africa, in the South
sea, and latterly in China In Africa she
has acquired total area of $4,000 square
miles. Among her insular acquisitions are
Kaiser Wilhelm's Land, Bismarck Archi-
pelago. New Britain and others. In China,
two years ago, she seized Kiao-Chau a
fortified harbor of great Importance and
after holding it for length of time graci-
ously condescended to accept from China
lease for ninety-nine years of the harbor
and a strip of territory thirty miles, wide
and 200 miles long. Does anybody suppose
that Germany will move out of the prem.
Uses at the expiration of the lease? These
various acquisitions of territory have been
accompanied by more or less fighting, but
far as known there has been no protect
either in Germany or among German
Americans against German aggression.
Great Britain is simply doing in Africa
what Germany has done and will continue
to do there and elsewhere, namely, try
ing 20 establish and extend her empire. and
she has better treaty claim to suzerainty
over the Transvaal than Germany had to
single foot of the territory of which she
has taken possession during the last few
years. In these circumstances one cannot
help thinking that German-American SYM
patty for the Beers is largely prejudice
against Great Britain as an aggressive
power. DIR. Pretorius's request that the
Secretary of State forward his contribution
of money to President Kruger will, of
course. be politely but firmly declined The
mails are open to Dr. Pretorius, and if
Kruger he can do so, but he should not
ask the United States government to be-
come vehicle for expressing his anti-Brit-
ish prejudice.