The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-09-07
THE HANGxAN IN SOUTH AFRICA.

THE HANGMAN IN SOUTH AFRICA.
That concomitant of British civiliza-
ton, the hapgman, is plying his odious
trade in South Africa. A young Afri-
cander named Coetzee, only q years
of age, has suffered the utmost penalty
of the law at Cradocl, Cape Colony,
on the charge of being "rebel''
against the British government. He
was accused of killing Private Gibbon,
foolish young Irishman who took
the Saxon shilling and became a Brit
ish soldier to rob the Beers of their
liberty.
1t is almost like reading chapter of
Irish history to follow the course of
events in South Africa today. The
crimes Of '9S i'll Ireland are being re-
peated there by the unspeakable Kit
chener and his marauders. Young
Coetzee was innocent of the death OF
Gibbon, and his last words on the
scaffold were: "Here stand by the
side Of Jesus" Thirty male inhabitants
of the district in which the young mar
tyr lived were hidden by the British
authorities to be present to witness
the execution, thinking the horrible
sight would pacify them and make
them loyal subjects of Edward the
Seventh. They attended, looked on
sullenly and returned to their homes
without uttering word audibly, but
silently they prayed for the soul Of
young Coetzee as it was winging its
flight to the celestial regions beyond
the stars where British hangmen are
unknown
There have been other executions
by the British hangman of prominent
Africanders in Cape Colony. Instead
of having the effect anticipated by
the British, the murders have provoked
the people to join the Beers Before
the present war is over England will
have lost Cape Colony by goading the
inhabitants into insurrection. The
Boer generals are gaining accessions
to the commanders every day. Ris-
ings of the Cape Dutch, as they are
called, are now taking place all over
the colony in districts which hitherto
remained inactive. but the fact is con-
cealed by Kitchener and the London
war office.
The outside world is kept in the
dark regarding the condition of affairs.
Martial law is proclaimed and leading
Africanders are suspected Of disloyalty
and arrested. imprisoned and hanged.
The colonial. legislature has been abol-
ished and reign of terror prevails
through the length and breadth Of the
colony. There cannot be less than
10000 Cape Colonials now in the field
with Kritzinger and De Wet. The
Beers are much stronger than Kit
chener reports, else why cannot the
British resume operations in the mines
and keep the Beers at a safe distance?
The Free Skaters and Transvaalers
have penetrated ITO all parts of Cape Col
ony and brought ammunition to the
Africanders upon whom they chiefly
rely for success. Since the day that
three Africanders were shot at De
Aar on the charge Of treason the re-
bellion began to spread in the colony,
and it is gaining momentum as time
goes on. The laundering policy Of
Kitchener and his masters is RESPONSE
BILE, and 1t is only question of time
until a great colonial army is in the
field, led by British subjects who have
been exasperated by military atrocities.
The Boer commandments are confident
Of the final issue and have never lost
heart in the face Of overwhelming
odds. The recent proclamation by Kit
ohener threatening them with Danish
ment if they do not surrender by Sep
TENDER Is is laughed to scorn. De
Wet. Delarey, Botha and Kritzinger
are playing ihide-and-seek with the
butcher of Omdurman, and counter
proclamations have been issued by
them to the burghers and Afrlcanders
to hold out to the end. The war Is
only beginning.