The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-02-22

University, Compares
the Britons and
Beers.
Baltimore Sun
Il The civilized world is divided as tt
the right OF this contest the majorit,
In the British Empire naturally sym.
pathize with MIR. Cham berlaln, while 6
respectable minority of the English
speaking race and virtually all other
people approve In general the course
of President Kruger.
= Let us discuss the question, first, with
exclusive reference to the two parties
In conflict. In race they are next OF
kin f; the English are more nearly re-
lated to the Dutch than any other peo-
pie. In religion they are In closest
utilization as Protestant Ch ristians. In
history the English are indebted to the
Dutch for important help in the Rev.
Olution which secured their freedom.
These facts make the strife unnatural.
We must add that In political tradi-
tions and convictions they are in vital
sympathy the English, though nom-
inally monarchists, are in reality re-
publlcans. The Dutch, though the
struggle seemed to be in vain, success
fully threw off the yoke of Spain and
have since bad in their Fatherla land free,
though now monarchical, institutions
while the Beers not only cherish the
spirit OF democracy, but have renounc-
ed monarchy and established a repub-
Iican government. In general civil
ization, as we may know from what has
already been said, they are substanti-
ally equal in all the arts and sciences
the English and Dutch are at the front.
Holland is the civilized peer of Great
Britain. The Beers combine the best
blood of Holland and France they are
the same kind of people as our FORE
fathers that settled this country of ours.
Their environment on the outskirts
Of the civilized world has not allowed
their development in the refneme nts
of cultured life, but they have the same
high, strong, pure principles as char
acterize their European kindred. Al
these facts make the strife of Boer and
BrltOn unnatural and most sad.
WHO WAS THE AGGREssOR?
1. To locate the responsl bility let
us see which party was the aggressor.
The facts are these: The Dutch, like |
the English, vlrile race, were not con-
tent to live within the narrow limits of |
Holland, and so went out in swarms |
the parent hive to New Amsterdam, to
Guiana, to Van Diemn's Land, to the
East Indies and to South Africa, where |
they established themselves at the Cape
of Good Hope in 1862. During the
supremacy of Napoleon Holland was
ruled by the French and Great Britain
took advantage of this fact to appropri-
ate the Dutch colonies. Accordingly,
in 1905, Cape Colony became by con-
quest a dependency OF the British
Crown. Thus the aggression of the
Briton was begun.
The Beers resented this subjugation
and, In order to free themselves from
British dominion, in 1885, at great
'acriiice, emlgrated to what is now
Natal. In 1912 the British pursued
hem into this territory, and again
ook possession OF their country which
hey had begun to reclaim from its
wilderness state. This was the second
Ict of aggression on the part of the
3riton.
In 1848 they resolved again to leave
heir homes in order to liberate them
elves from the British yoke, preferring
he inhospitable wilderness to state
# subjugation. Under the lead of An
lrew Pretorious they made their noted
rex, or emigration, nothward beyond
be river Vaal and the Drakenberg
In 1858 they were by
reaty absolved from their allegiance
o the British Grown and formed them
elves into tie two Independent repub-
ice OF the Transyaal and the Orange
free State
The third act OF. aggression by the
3riton took place in 1897, when fill
band Of English, under DR..
a. iiis;s Son. Isxds faId l
he territory OF the Transvaal, with.th
purpose OF ovefturnlng the Boer Gov
rnment and establishing British su-
remacy in its stead. This was thwart-
d by the capture of Jameson.
The fourth and last aggressive act Is
hat which precipitated the present
'ar. It is the assertion of sovereignty
yer the Transvaal by the present Brit
sh Government, through Joseph Cham