The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-07-26
STRONG EUROPEAN SYMPATHY
YET FOR TIE BOERs.

One of the most marked features of
European conditions now is the almost
unanimous condemnation OF the Brit
ish war upon the Beers. A year or a
year and a half ago the sentiment of
dislike and hostility to England was
most pronounced on the continent of
Europe. At one time it was thought
o improbable that some OF the ma
tons would unite and demand the ces-
sation' of the cruel. vindictive war up
on the two little republics. They all
believed h Britain was grossly wrong
and was waging a most unjust and in
iuuitous war. 1t is stated that this
sentiment still exists. A paper like
the New York Evening Post. with pro-
English feeling in the diabolical a
said on the 18th. that mo one has yet
pretended that there has been any no
ticeable change in this European feel
ing of overwhelming d~isapproval, and
the act is worth more attention than
has thus far been given to it." 1t would
be a blessed thing if the ~undeniable
SgIAlpdlhy "OuAu lohC Oil oSlINC u
and express itself in an agreement to
stop the war. The Evening Post no.
tees that the traditional dislike of
the English people. so deeply rooted
both in France and Germany, and the
blood interest of the Dutch nation in
the South African struggle, served to
stir European indignation to white
heat" 1t seems that while there was
a clear, genuine and universal out
burst Of anger" which was made
known by something like an organ
ICED way" that still nothing to end the
war was Ion The Evening Post says
that this feeling has today hardly di-
minished in intensity is both striking
and astonishing. now hat the war has
dragged out it's weary length for more
than a e and a half. while the out
look for Boer independence, or for even
that partial freedom which Burke de-
fined as privilege and prerogative and
not liberty seems more h ever
chimerica1."
And yet it was in the power of Eu-
rope to have ended la war or to have
ended Britain. The German people
still give much consideration to the
Boer war. There have been demon
strations in Germany that did not
amount to anything beyond open dis
like of England. Not long ago, we are
told by the Evening Post, tina 5000
Germans from all parts of the Empire
met at the great Germania monument
o. the banks of the Rhine. dedicated
to the achievement of German national
unity. and solemnly condemned the ex-
tinction of the Boer republics. Nor is
there any lack of smaller meetings of
protest in towns and cities. In Buda-
pest recently a gathering of thousands
showed that sympathy for the Beers
is not confined within the borders of
Germany, while in France the erection
Of a monument to Colonel Villebois-
Mareuil. the Lafayette of the South
African war. is but one sign of many
hat interest in the struggle has not
died out"
But all this ends in sound and fury,
signifying nothing The public sense
is often strong and h%ealthful. 1t is so
in these United States. There is natur-
al and widespread sympathy with the
heroic Beers in their struggle against
a tremendous enemy for liberty and
independence. 1t would be unnatural
and monstrous if this dominating SEN
timent did not prevail. The people who
themselves, love liberty and free
thought and independence-are the very
people to cherish profound sympathy
with a battling, suffering people and
to cry out in bitterness of spirit against
red handed expressions and outrages
that are not limited to men in arms
but are visited upon aged men and
women and children. The Evening
Post is optimistic. 1t says:
We have already pointed out the
increasing number of cases within the
past few years when TIE moral sense
OF the world, irrespective o. national
boundaries, has cried out against some
national injustice or wrong-doing. in a
way which must in time make the I'M
scrupulous politicians Of the future
take heed before embarking upon a
course of national outrage. The depth
and persistence OF the European feel
ing on the subject of the wrong done
to the Beers is another hon=ful and en-
couraging sign that the family Of ma
tons feels more and more the moral
responsibility for the welfare OF its
members"