The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-09
Big Meeting Held in Chicago
Auditorium Theater.
AssembIage Is Addressed by
BOurke Cochran.
MANY TURNED AWAY
Although an Admission Was
Charged to Help Beers.
Strong Appeal to Roosevelt to
Lend a Hand.

Chicago, Dec. "a programme OF
protest against British methods in the
South African war was carried out be-
fore a big audience in the Auditorium
theater here last night Following an
address by w. Bourke Cochran and
earnest speeches by others, resolutions
for the appointment of a CON mittee to
bring the sentiments of the meeting
before the president were adopted. AL
though an admission was charged, the
funds bein~ intended to aid the Beers,
and especially their women and children
many were unable to gain admittance-
There were 500 people on the stage
when Mr.. Cochran arose. He said in
part:
However men may differ about the
invasion OF the South African republics,
all are agreed that the best ration of
peace is in the highest degree desirable.
There are but two ways in which the
war can be termina ted-either the
Beers must surrender, the English
government must abandon the attempt
% Subdue them 1t is quite generally
assumed that the resistance of the
Beers cannot be successful, and if this
be true, they would not be justified in
continuing a struggle which involved
fruitless loss of life and waste of prop
erty, even though the losses inflicted
on their enemy We're ten fold greater
than what they suffered themselves. for
bloodshed which is useless is always
indefensible.
But is it true that the resistance of
the Beers is hopeless2 Since the fall
OF Pretoria 1t certainly has not been
1ruitlesS; it has been justified by most
in portant results Lord SaliSbury's
position that nothing but absolute sur
render would be considered has been
abandoned, and today the burghers
could secure almost any terms short of
complete and explicit Acknowledgement
of their independence. AS their resist
1acc ,.ft 1.,,-
IS their struggle for independ-
ence hopeless. On the contrary
If their resistance be prolong-
ed for a few months. the abandonment
of the struggle to subdue them by
Great Britain is inevitable.
Providence has so ordered events,
that the president of the United States
can compose this bitter quarrel 1t is
an extraordinary opportunity offered
to an extraordinary man. 1t would not
be necessary to draw the sword, to
or to take an unfriendly attitude. One
word spoke to the English ambassador
or in the hearing of the English nation.
would restore peace, establish justice,
secure liberty TO these burgherS, pro-
mote enormously the prosperity of the
human race and bring immeasurable
gloSy to the American nation. VIII that
word be spoken? Never in history
have such mOmentous results hung on
the lips of human being. VIII Theo-
dore Roosevelt improve this opportuni-
whole human racer
The following resolutions were among
those adopted:
Whereas, The president of the United
States, the late lamented William Nc
k1nley. on the 18th of April, 1898, de-
nounced the system of concentration
camps in the following language:
Recommendation. adopted avowedly
as war measure in order to cut off
the resources of the insurgents, work
ed its predestined result. AS 1 said in
~ noe curea 1ac+ -
civilized warfare; it was determination
The only peace it could beget was that
of the wilderness and the grave" And
Whereas, The natural consequences
OF these conditions have ensued and
the lives of 100, 900 women and children
are now endangered; and
Whereas, A degree of suffering and
ueath exists in these camps which is
described by the Manchester Guardian,
of September 4th, 1901, as being with
out parallel in history; and
Whereas, A comparison of the death
reports from month to month demon
strateS that the evils of these camps
are increasing and that the fatalities
Tor the month of September, among
children alone, reached the appalling
rate of 433 per thousand per annum-a
rate at which the child life of the South
African Republics will be exterminated
IN two and one-third years; and
Resolved, That we and each of us do
hereby pledge ourselves to use our ut
most powers to make this, our protest
known to our several representatives in
the American congress, now newly as
sembled, and to cause a COPY of these
resolutions to be brought to the atten-
ton OF the president of the United
States with our most respectful but
urgent petition that the treaty of Wash
1ngton, of May Sth. 1871, be strictly en-
forced, and that the use of American
ports and waters be henceforth denied
TO vessels operating under British char
ter for the augmentation of supplies of
war; and that the president of these