Evening star., 1902-01-06
BRYAN SPEAKS FOR BOERS
PRESENT AT BIG MASS MEETING IN
CLEVELAND.
Mayor johnson Also Ha. Kind Wore
for the Burxhers I'm south
Africa.

A dispatch from Cleveland, Ohio last
night says: Four thousand people attended
a pro-Boer meeting In Gray's Armory this
afternoon. There was enthusiastic applause
for every expression of sympthy and en-
couragement for the struggling Beers An
unexpected event i'm the meeting was tho
appearance of William J. Bryan, who is in
this city for the day the guest OF Mayor
johnson.
When the committee in charge Of the
meeting heard that the democratic leader
was in the city an invitation was sent to
him and the mayor to attend and address,
the gathering Both gentlemen accepted.
and when. toward the close OF other
speeches. Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. johnson en-
tered the hall, the whole audience rose en-
masse and repeatedly shouted the names OF
Bryan" and Johnson. and greeted them
with hurrahs and hand clapping.
The audience was composed mostly OF
men, although a number OF women were
present. The tri-color of the Boer repub-
lies was prominent feature OF the ar
morys decorations and little streamers
were tied in the buttonholes of many OF
the men. Upon the stage were seven ma
tive Beers, who had been I'm some of the
early conflicts of their countrymen against
the English soldiers They were driven
from the country and are now residents
of this city.
The meeting continued for four hours.
lur dudreSS DelDk mace DN JOnn
j. Lentz. Rev. August Franz, a local Re-
formed Lutheran clergyman, also spoke.
When the formal speeches of the after
noon were concluded Messrs. Bryan and
johnson were called upon to address the
vast audience. Mr.. Bryan spoke for about
five minutes. during which time he said:
Sad will be that day, fallen will be the
star of our destiny. If the time ever comes
when struggling freemen feel that they
cannot look upon the people of these states
for sympathy"
Mr. Bryan said that he was I'm entire
sympathy with the intent of the meeting.
eulogized the fighting South African farm
ers, and urged them to continue the strug-
gle. He said that he was glad the war had
cost England dearly and that the dis
aStrous cost in money and life would be a
much-needed lesson for the English gov
ernment, because il would teach and has
already taught a lesson that will not be
soon forgotten.
Mr. Bryan said that he considered Il n
compliment that the Beers looked to the
| United States for aid and sympathy in
| their struggle and that he considered it a
| disgrace that no official expression of SYM
pathy had yet been made by this govern
| ment Mr.. Bryan believed that the Eng
| lish people are opposed to the continuance
| of the war, because they. too. are suffer
| Ing because of the unhappy conflict and are
| the ones that must bear the burden OF cost.
| Mayor johnson also spoke briefly, and
! said that he was in full sympathy with
| the intent of the meeting and expressed
1
Mr.. Bryan, in that the English people gem
| orally are opposed to the war.
A resolution of great length was pro-
posed and Will be sent to the President OF
the United States. The resolution calls the
| Presidents attention to the continuance OF
| the war for the past two years and states
| that 1t has been characterized on the part
of the British a conflict of savagery by
| the confiscatfon or destruction of property
| of inhabitants and non-combatants living
within the zone OF war.
Attention is called to the denuncIation
| by President Mckinley OF the system OF
RECOMMENDATION camps. A quotation from
the Manchester England) Guardian of
September 4, 1901. is made which states
that degree OF suffering and death ex-
lists in these camps without a parallel in
history. In conclusion. the President IL
asked to enforce the treaty OF Washing
ton. May g. 1871 denying to vessels oper-
ating under British authority opportunity
for the augmentation OF supplies OF war
from the United States
President Roosevelt is asked to continue
: the efforts of his predecessor to bring to
an end the horrors of concentration
camps and a warfare which by Its un-
-exampled ferocity and enormous cost of
life and treasure has astounded the civil
ized world"
Members OF German singing societies
numbering GOO voices sang patriotic songs.