The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-06
BRYAN ON THE B0ERS
SlLVER-ToNGUED ORATORS ELO-
QUENT APPEAL.
GLAD BRITAIN HAS SUFFERED.
STRONG PETITION TO BE SENT TO
PRESIDENT.

PrO-BOer Meeting at Cleveland, o.,
Addressed by Hon. William j.
Bryan, Who Was in the City as "A
Guest of Mayor Tom JOhnsOn--His
Entire Sympathy With the Fight
ing Farmers-A Compliment That
States.
Cleveland, O., Jan. 5.-Four thousand
people attended a pro-Boer meeting in
the Grays' Armory this afternoon.
There was enthusiastic applause for
every expression of sympathy and en-
couragement for the struggling Beers.
An unexpected event in the meeting
was the appearance of Hon. William
]. Bryan, who is in this city to-day as
the guest of Mayor Johnson. When the
committee in charge of the meeting
learned that the Democratic leader was
in the city an invitation was sent to
him and the Mayor to attend and ad-
dress the gathering. Both gentlemen
accepted, and when, towards the close
of other speeches, Mr.. Bryan and Mr..
Johnson entered the hall, the whole
audience rose en- masse and repeatedly
shouted the names of Bryan" and
Johnson" and greeted them with hur-
rahs and hand-clapping.
The audience was composed mostly
of men, although a number of women
were present. The tri-color of the Boer
republics was a prominent feature Of
fba arroOrv'S decorations opd IittIe
streamers were tied in the bottom
holes of many of the men. Upon the
stage were seven native Beers who
had been in some of the early conflicts
of their countrymen against the Eng
lish soldiers. They were sdriven from
the country, and are now residents of
this city.
The meeting continued for four hours,
the principal address being by Hon.
John ]. Lenz. Rev. August Franz, a
local Reformed Lutheran clergyman,
also spoke.
When the formal speeches of the af-
ternoon were concluded Messrs. Bryan
dress 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"
A severe Lesson to England.
Mr. Bryan said that he was in entire
sympathy with the intent of the meet
ing and eulogized the fighting South
African farmers and urged them to
continue the struggle. He said that he
was glad the war had cost England so
dearly and that the disastrous cost in
money and life would be a much
needed lesson for the English govern
ment, because it would teach and has
already taught a lesson that will not
be soon forgotten.
Mr.. Bryan said that he considered ii
a compliment that the Beers looked to
the United States for aid and sympa-
thy in their struggle, and that he con-
sidered it a disgrace that no official
expression of sympathy had yet been
made by this government. Mr.. Bryan
believed that English people are OPP
posed to the continuance of the war
because they too are suffering because
of the unhappy conflict and are the.
ones that must bear the burden of the
cost.
Mayor Johnson also spoke briefly,
and said that he was in full sympathy
with the intent Of the meeting.
A resolution of great length was pro-
posed and will be sent to the President
of the United States. 1t calls the
Presidents attention to the continuance
of the war for the past two years, and
states that it has been characterized
on the part of the British as a conflict
of savagery by the confiscation or de-
struction of property of inhabitants and
non-combatants lying within the zone
of war.
Attention is called to the denuncia-
tion by President Mckinley of the sys-
tenn of Recommendation camps.
An Appeal to Roosevelt.
A quotation from the Manchester
England Guardian of Sept 4, 1901.
is made which states that a degree
of suffering and death exists in these
camps without a parallel in history.
In conclusion, the President is asked
to enforce the treaty of Washington,
May s, 1871, denying to vessels oper-
ating under British authority oppor-
tunity for the augmentation of sup
plies of war from the United States.
President Roosevelt is asked to con-
tinue the efforts of his predecessor to
bring to an end the horrors Of con-
centration camps and a warfare which
by it's "uneXampled ferocity and enor-
NOUS cost of life and treasure, has as
founded the civilized world"