The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-09


the territory would be left free from Eng.
lish rule. On April II. 1877. the Trans
vaal was annexed against the almos
unanimous protest of the Beers"
GIadstone's Words Cheerrd.
At this point Mr.. Davis read quotations
from Gladstone which drew forth ap-
plause. The war of $780, and the engage
ments at Bronkhorst Spruit. Laings Mex
Ingogo. and Majuba Hill were then re-
viewed. The speaker drew upon the treaty
of March, 1881. to show that it gave
the Transvaal absolute control of all its
internal affairs, with the distinct re5erva-
tion of suzerainty, which was 10 the effect
that the Transyaal should not maxi trea-
ties with foreign Governments hostile to
British interests. Continuing, he said;
In the light of the past history of the
rise and fall OF empires, of the sad wrecks
of proud and naughty nations who hated
justice and honor and right, but loved
tyranny. oppression, and wrong. that are
strewn along the pathway of the centuries
can but believe that God has intended
that in the two South African Republics
liberty and equality OF rights shall prevail
and the rugged, brave hearted, God fear
ing Beers shall be forever free.
British love for gold is proverhia1.
Wherever gold has been discovered there
the British have turned longing and q
wishful eye. When gold was discovered
in Alaska only a few years ago, it viii
be remembered how quickly an effort was
made to extend the Canadian line far
enough westward 10 take in the gold
fields. The first sign of the conspiracy on
the part of capitalists. spectators, treaty
breakers, and empire builders to destroy
the South African Republic was the JaT1e-
son raid. Arms and ammunition were
shipped in to Johannesburg, concealed in
machinery and gold mining appliances by
the oonspirators.
Mr.. Davis contended that the present
war was forced upon the TransyaI Re-
public. and he read at length a statement.
prepared by F W. Reitz, Secretary OF
State of the Souih African Republic. MIR.
Davis gave it as his opinion that the Brit
ish demands we.e trumped up, and that
they were without a sound basis, either in
morals or law.
The story of Buffers attempt to reach
Lsdysmith by crossing the Tugela near
Cheveley and Colenso was told.
From the tops OF the hill the tents of
the British could be distinctly seen, and
they covered many acres of ground. 1t was
indeed mighty and imposing army. Cen
eral Butler was recognized as one OF Eng
lands greatest commanders. and was sent
to Africa with much display TO put an end
to the war in two weeks. But. alas. his
splendid army undertook TO break through
the Beer lines five different times to the
relief of Ladysmith. each time being driven
back across the TugeIa River with fear
ful losses. while at the same time the
Boer Army kept General White beseiged.
Indeed it is estimated that as many as 49,
eco men were lost to the British Army on
the Tugela River and at Ladysmith. And
how many Beers do you suppose caused
this loss: hurled Butler and his &c.
coo men back five times across that blood
red river. and at the same time held the
il. 600 British in Ladysmith? Not over
1900 Beers did all this
At Spfon ISop and Dundee.
Mr.. Davis repudiated the charge that
the Beers have violated the white flag. but
contended that this symbol had frequently
been misused by the English. He told
these incidents:
ION the top of Spion Kop. when that
wonderful battle was almost over,
young Boer soldier. not more than seven
teen years old, was passing by wound
ed British soldier and the British SOL
dicr asked him for a drink of water. AS
the tender-hearted Boer lad knelt by his
side to let him drink from his canteen,
that British soldier thrust n bayonet into
the poor boys side. And I myself talked
with this lad. and kneeling by him, shed
tears when he died
During the battle of Dundee there was
a lull in the firing for time. on account
of the Beers seeing buggy approaching
them rapidly and floating white flag. All
awaited its arrival. At distance of
about 600 yards from them the buggy
stopped. wheeled about. dropped IRE
white flag. and that innocent loo;-ing
buggy was suddenly transformed into d
murderous Maxim gun. which felled near
ly dozen Beers. | talked with the man
who captured that flag and saw il myself.
1t was a white flag with small black
stripe through The centre. Tha. flag Is
now in possession of Colonel Blake. the
brave American soldier, who commands
the Irish brigade. which is composed al
most entirely OF Irish Americans, and no
brayer men are in the Boer army, said
General Joubert to me-"
Mr. Davis alleged that wounded Boer
soldiers were murdered by British lancers
as they lay on the field of Elandslaagte.
One of the grave charges made by the
speaker against the English is that they
have been neglectful in the matter of the
burial of their dead. He told of his visit
at Spion Kop seven days after the battle
and said
II went with a detachment of General
Burgers men to bury English dead. which
General Butler had declined to do. The
English had begun the task. but had not
concluded 1t. Upon every hand were he'll
NETS, belts. canteens. bayonets. and wear
ing apparel scattered about, covered with
clotted blood. Here and there were small
ridges OF fresh earth and stones thrown
up. and along those ridges at intervals
of ten or fifteen feet we're heaps of writh
ing worms. each heap about two feet in
circumference. | could not imagine what
this awful sight meant. when Boer who
was with me took a stick and scraped the
dirt away and TO my horror / saw the
body of man lying upon his back, his
stomach having swollen and protruded
through the thin covering OF earth. In
other places we passed along ana saw feet
and hands protruding through the ground,
all swollen and the skin bursting asunde.r,
while the rest of the body was covered
with a thin coating Of earth
4 Final Tribute.
In conclusion Mr. Davis said:
Brave were the ancient Greek OF
Athens and Sparta. who. with their allies,
stood up to battle aud to die to defend
themselves against Asiatic invasion: brave
was Alexander the Great and his Macedo-
mans on the battlefield OF Issus: brave
was the struggle Of the 1'yrolese against
the legions OF Napoleon; brave the stand
made by the SWitZers for liberty against
the Hapsburg; brave the wonderful charge
of Pickett's men, and the equally brave
defence OF the Union troops on the GRIM
son heights of Gettysburg; but equally
brave. gallant. and chivalrous are the hum
BILE peasants of the yeldt who, defending
the passes OF the Drakensburg, or seeking
death. climbing the rugged sides OF Spion
Kop, willing to die. if need be, TO save
their beloved Repmblics from the British