The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-14

"Thc idea of annexation was never
in the mind of the English nation un-
ii! the Beers entered British territory
and fired the first hostile shot. and
question very much If she would an
mex the Transvaal now should peace
be declared tomorrow providing the
Bocr republic would pay the war in
demnity."
Thus did the Rev. James Hughes
reply to those persons who claim that
the British-Boe war was precipitated
by the lust of empire" and the greed
for gold" in a lecture on the war de-
livcred last evening In the Penn ave-
nue. Baptist church. Rev. Mr.. Hughes
proved most entertaining speaker,
possessed of "a wide knowledge of
South African affairs, obtained from
residence of ten years i'm that part
of the world
Being formerly loyal subject of
Her Majesty. the Queen, he of course
spoke from the English standpoint. bur
his remarks were received with every
manifestation of approval by the large
audience present
In beginning his remarks he stated
and that this one especially so on ac-
count Of the injurious effect it will
work on the minds of the natives who
are being taught that Christianity is
for peace. yet now have the spectacle
of two Christian nations at war.
HE LIKES THE BOERs.
He liked the Beers for many things
hn flf fnI. hi,
for their strong and stalwart patriot
ism. and for their deep religious in
stincts. But" said he. "in consider
ing this question We must distinguish
between men and nations III de-
scribing the Christianity Of the Beers
he quoted Horace Greeley's definition
of a certain class of people. They
are religious but not civilized" He
also quoted remark made by ona
, of the most enlightened Beers to b.
found in South Africa, and one of theil
trues: friends. who said in describini,
them that they are a. simple minded
dull lot of farmers"
The treaty of 1884 between the Trans
vaal and Great Britain was described
| in detail, and the provisions Of it Were
recounted by the speaker after he had
| told Of the serious war which had pre-
! ceded this agreement. Soon after il
| had been signed gold was discovered
anI Immediately the Beers becam,
| insolent, glorying in their indepcn.
| dencc. They never stopped tauntinG
! the English on the victories they hat
won ovc- the latter, even the president
! himself boasting that England had
| shown the white, flag.
IF you pick at Il small sore on you,
! hand you spread inflammation" said
Mr.. Hughes, and the Beers by theil
taunts and jeers spread political in
fiammation." Continuing he said:
What is called the Transvaal re,
public is not a republic. The name !:
a misnomer and a mistit. A republic
| is as Lincoln said, A nation ruled fol
the people by the people, but tina
! doesn't apply in their case. Out o
the 100000 inhabitants. G0,000 only are
Beers, and out of this latter number
only 5000 have a vote to elect the mem
J bers Of the Nolksraad. This Nolksraat
elects an executive council! of seven
which rules the Nolksraad and tn
| president in turn rules the eXecutiv;
council. II is more like an autocracy
and is almost an oligarchy."
NOT FOR CONQUEST.
| In refuting the statement that tn,
war was solely for conquest, tn,
! speaker, in addition to the rcmarl
made at the beginning of this article
quoted from Lord Salisburys speecl
at the lord mayors dinner in whicl
the latter said that England neve
wanted their gold. she only wante,
that the white people of the countr,
DE given what is theirs in justice anC
! in right" Rev. Hughes also quoted
| Cardinal Vaughan's letter in whicl
the latter said the war was one o
justice and in which he called upo,
the Catholic clergy Of England to pra,
FOR the success of the British arms.
| He then described a political meet
ing he once attended i'm Johannesburs
at which the Uitlanders present drew
up a set of moderate demands TO
equal rights in the government an,
sent them to the parliament with
graceful! note couched in courteous
language, requesting that that bod,
take some action on them. The not
was passed around from hand to ham
when it reached the Nolksraad annie
"a chorus Of jeers, and an eye-witnes
stated that finally one burgher rea,
1t, laughed aloud and tore it int,
shreds. remarking: IF that's wha
they want they'll have to fight for It,.
He described at length the various
offers of equal rights made to pros
pective investors by the Boer govern
, ment and how these promises were no
fulfilled; the time Of residence befor
naturalization papers could he takel
out having been rapidly raised from
twelve months to fourteen years
'"Thus," said the speaker. the mel
who furnish the energy. brains an,
muscle of the country and who hav
developed ii into what it Is. are prac
| tically debarred from the rights O