Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-02-03
TIE BRITISH AND THE BOERS

To the Editor of the Alexandria Gazette:
For these many years my opinions
and sentiments have been go perfectly
in accord with those of the Gazette that
now, when the first difference occurs in
our sympathies with the parties en-
gagged 10 the war in South Africa, l
must confess it hurts me. Perhaps We
may even feel alike on this subject at
some future time, and I will tell you
when 10 will occur When forget that
in the struggle in which you and were
engaged for four years, battling against
our subjugation, did not find single
regiment or company of English fight
ing against us. When l forget that the
few English in this neighborhood,
among whom was the gallant Josiah
Lowe. tooe up arms in our behalf;
when forget that | saw this part OF
NV county overrun by regiments, bri-
g4d, 8, divisions ana corps OF Dutch
mercsnaries; when forget that l saw
G,e father OF one Of your leading citi-
Ems and bank directors with bis head
cleft and bis only garments stained with
his blood from sabre wound Inflicted
in his efforts to rescue his children from
bis burning home: when | forget see
ing the heavens lighted by the blaze OF
that and the other homes In this VII
lage occupied by old men, women ani
cAlldren, wantonly fred at the hour OF
midnight; when | forget that in no
Instance have the Beers made an effort
to better the condition or Christianize
single savage tribe from whom they
wrested the country for which they are
fighting; when | forget that wherever
England has extended her government,
that civilization and Christianity have
kept psci pessu, with such extension,
a. in India and Australia; when l
forget all this, and not till then, will
our sympathies again unite and How
on together in an unrutfled current. ln
speaking of the outrages committed ID
tais neighborhood by portions OF Sei-
e's corp, l will say that / met some
humane men and gentlemen smoDg
them. General Carl ShurtZ was per-
feet gentleman, and | would travel one
hundred M les for the pleasure Of grasp
ing his hand and thanking him for the
kindness showed me when he had me q
wounded prisoner in his room at Thor
oughfare Gap and made me lie down on
his bed and breakfast, dine aud sup
sith himself and staff. Captain DilRer,
of his staff, afterwards General Dill.
ger, was perfect gentleman. General
Seieel was perfect gentleman, as was
also Col. Robinson, his provost mai
shsl, who, when he informed me that
Gen. Seigle had instructed him to pt-
role me to stay at home until eS-
changed and when l replied that it
would be small satisfaction to witness
the outrages committed by the soldiers
such as destroying old family china
end cutting the spokes out of carriages,
&C.. said "it is those id Dutch oil
! Blenker's, and will have to have some
of them shot yet" There were doubl =
less other gentlemen with whom l did
not come 10 contact. In the fight be-
tween the Dutch boar and the British
lion it would perhaps be as natural Tor
the North to sympathize with the for
mer as for the monkey to sympathizs
with the cat whose foot he had used to
mil the chestnut out of the fire, while
il would be as unnatural for the South
to do so, as for the boy to pity the ROD
that had been broken by blow on his
own back. So mote it be. b.
Haymarket, Jan. 90