Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-12-18
wALHALLA, 8. G. (.
WEDNESDAY. DEC. rs, 1904.
RoOsINa pRo-BoER MEETING in CHICAGO.
Bourke Cochran Shows that the Beers Can
and Will Resist the British.

British methods in the South Afri-
can war was carried out before an
immense audience in the Auditorium
theatre, in Chicago, on the night of
the 7th instant. Following an elo-
quent address by w. Bourke Cock.
ran, and earnest speeches by others,
resolutions for the appointment of a
committee to bring the sentiments of
the meeting before the President
were adopted.
Although al admission was charged,
the funds being intended to assist
the Beers and especially their women
and children, standing room was at a
premium and many were unable to
gain admittance.
The programme opened with the
song, "The True Heart" sung by
nineteen German musical societies of
Chicago. DIR. Hiram w. Thomas,
head OF the Peoples church, fol-
lowed with prayer. Then followed
short addresses by Judge Theodore
Brentano and Judge Murray f.
Tuley, chairman of the Chicago
branch of the American Transvaal
league, under the auspices of which
the meeting was held.
BoURKE CoCKRAN's SPEECH.
Mr.. Cochran, the orator of the
evening was greeted with tumult
of applause. He said in part:
"Many men differ about tho inva-
sion of the South African republics !;
all are agreed that the restoration of
peace is in the highest degree desir-
able. There are but two ways in
which the war can be terminated !;
either the Beers must surrender, or
the English government must aban-
don the attempt to subdue them. 1t
is assumed that the resistance of
of the Beers will not 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 property, even though
the losses inflicted on their enemy
were ten-fold greater than that they
suffered themselves, for bloodshed
which is useless is always indefensi-
BILE. But is it true that the resist
ance of the Beers is hopeless Since
the fall of Pretoria it certainly has
not been fruitless it has been iusti-
fed by most important results.
Lord Salisbury's position that moth
ing but absolute surrender would be
considered, has been. abandoned, and
to-day the burghers could secure
almost any terms, short of complete
and explicit acknowledgment of
their independence. AS their re-
sistance has not been fruitless, nei-
ther is. their struggle for independ-
ence hopeless. On the contrary, if
their resistance be prolonged for a
few months the abandonment of the
struggle to subdue them by Great
Britain is inevitable.
THE FIX ENGLAND IS IN.
"This statement is not based on
any special information concerning
the war, but on the conviction that
it would be impossible for the gov
ernment to secure the passage IF
many more war appropriations
through the House of Commons.
The last budget was passed only
after immense difficulties. All
sources of taxation have been practi-
cally exhausted, and the attempt to
effect another large war loan would
result in such fall in the price of
consols as would seriously jeopardize
the British industries. If, then, the
Boer forces can hold the field little
longer, the attempt to subdue the
republics must be abandoned for
lack of means TO pursue it.
THE BARBAROUS BRITISH.
"The capacity of the Beers to
maintain the struggle is placed be-
yond doubt by the barbarity of
the methods employed to subdue
them. The English government
cannot avoid supporting the women
and children made homeless by the
destruction of the farms. With the
support of his women and children
imposed upon England, while bis
lands have been made desolate and
unproductive the Boer soldier is free
to continue in the field as long as he
can secure by capture abundant sup
plies of food and arms from the
English forces. His reputation for
humanity and courage make the
English soldiers prefer surrendering
to facing his rifle.
"Nothing can be clearer than that
the resistance of the burghers can
not be suppressed, and, therefore,
the only possible way to peace is the
utith h Il lra.uo1 n.n.k