The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-07
GEN. PrAR SONS, ArPnAI..

The appeal on behalf of dhe Beers sent
out from New Orleans on the Fourth OF
July by Gen. Pearsons, the special agent
Of the Boer governments. has met with
a sympathetic reception on the part OF
the American people. II was timed so as
to reach them on their national holiday
when there would be universal rejoicing
over the winning of American liberty
from the government against which the
sturdy South African Dutchmen are now
heroically struggling. and when, natural
ly, American hearts would pulsate more
rapidly in response 10 the cry for liberty.
While Gen. Parsons appeal is strong
and pathetic. and will no doubt have
weight in increasing the already predom-
mating sentiment favorable to the Beers
1t embodies two errors One is that the
war would stop il the shipment Of horses
and mules from this country Tor
the use of the British in South
Africa were prohibited by the United
States government, and the other that the
United States have violated treaty ooli-
cations in permitting the shipments OF
supplies -iuA4C9 nhA AtSASNS
New Orleans.
In the first instance the United States
have no monopoly of the horse-and mule
markets, and If Great Britain were not
permitted to secure such live stock as
she needed for South African operations
in the United States, she would procure
them elsewhere. To change the base of
iture of money. but Great Britain would
not be apt to let any such consideration
as that keep her back
Nor is there any treaty or other obliga-
ton prohibiting the United States from
selling mules, horses or other supplies
to the belligerents in South Africa The
question was recently passed upon by
federal court in the matter of the ship
ment of horses and mules from New Or
leans, and the decision was to the enect
that the governments neutrality did not
affect our markets; that the markets
were open to all customers, whether bel
Iigerent or not. Anything like the or
ganization of an armed force in United
states territory for service in South At
RIGA would not be permitted, of course.
Nothing of that sort has taken place.
This government has kept within the line
of strict neutrality. 1t has mules, horses
and other supplies for sale, and is ready
10 sell them to either British or Beers.
That is the commercial and legal aspect
of the case.
The foregoing, however. does not alter
the fact that the American people sympa-
thize deeply with the Beers in their I'M
equal struggle for liberty Their fight
while not precisely a parallel with that
Of the American fight for independence, Is
strikingly close to it; and the methods
that are being employed by the British
in South Africa are strongly suggestive
OF those that were employed In the
American colonies. The devastation of
farms and the burning of houses. villages
| and towns recalls to mind the career OF
the bloody Tarleton, who burned and kill
! ed from the Savannah river in Georgia to
the James river in Virginia, and who was
| spoken of with horror by our grand-par-
ents. Not only have Tarleton's tactics
4
| of the notorious Spanish general, Weyler,
involving RECOMMENDATION" have been
practiced upon Boer families by order of
| Gen. Kitchener.
There may be in this country few
| Anglomaniacs-someo of the very rich. who
spend their time and money in England
who would like to see Great Britain win.
and crush the national life out of two
brave. virile little republics Of white men,
but they do not represent the American
sentiment. Americans, whatever theiI
descent, are liberty-loving, and their SYM
pathies are with the gallant Dutchmen
who, having redeemed from the wilder
ness and savagery a country for them
selves are now making a most gallant
struggle, against greatly superior force
| to retain possession of it.
/