The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-04-18
WAR WAS INSPIRED
SOLELY BY GREED

tho case IL he had started for Wash
ington on the same errand, no mat
ter to what great government he be-
longed?
England promised to pay an in
demnity in the sum of some two and
one-half million pounds sterling for
this raid. Did they ever pay 1t? No
one ever heard of their doing 1t, al
though they had nearly five years In
which to do IL. But then England
made good none of its promises to the
little Boer republic.
Under the subhead, Demanded
Franchises, the cable says: The
controversy which was responsible for
The war was the unsatisfactory status
of the Uitlanders in the republic. They
demanded franchises which the Boer
government refused to grant, etc. ETC.
What right had they to demand fran
chises until they had lived the re-
quired length of time in the country?
At oil times they had the right after
two years residence to become natur-
allied, and such naturalization carried
with II the right to vote for any OFF,
GER, executive or legislative. except the
president and members Of the first
volksrad. This body is equivalent to
the English house of lords. and who
ever heard Of anyone having a vote
in the election of member of the
British house of lords?'.
NOT THE REAL CAUSE.
"As a matter of fact this elective
franchise was not the trouble at all.
The real trouble was gold. The rich
rand, the johannesburg reef. I'm
doubtedly this field is the richest prop
osition in all the world, and England
wanted 1t; she wants every gold field
in existence, and it was that that turn
ed the head of the hypocrite of Down
ing street.
If you will turn back the leaves of
your history to the month of June in
1899 you will find that at the instance
Of President Steyn, of the Orange Free
State, who was most earnest In his
desire for peace throughout South At
rica. President Kruger and Sir Alfred
Miner met in conference at Bloem-
fontein, the capital of the Orange
Free State. and for five long days and
nights they wrestled with this very
problem of franchise.
HAD MIND MADE UP.
president Kruger, when he went to
that conference, had on his hands Il
law requiring residence of IA years
in the South African republic to attain
full and complete franchise. Sir AL
fred Miner came to the conference
with his mind made up that he would
accept nothing but Ave year fran
chise law as settlement of the inn
pending difficulties. During the con-
ference President Kruger came down
to nine, then seven years. There he
stuck and refused any further conces-
sion.
Tho high commissioner, Sir Alfred,
would make no compromise. Five
years or war was the tenor of his
whole talk. The conference closed and
the participants returned to their re.
spective homes. Some time after this
President Kruger, in note to the
British government, agreed to recon-
mend the passage of a five year fran
chise law, provided the British govern
ment on its part would renew its
pledge to abstain from further med
ding in the internal affairs of his
country.
JOSEPH ACCEPTED.
Joseph Chamberlain says he accept
ed this proposition, but the curt re-
fusal Mr.. Kruger received tells quite
another story. Then, as no recourse
seemed to be left this grand old man
and the British troops were being
massed on the borders of mis- country
he issued his famous and wonderful
ultimatum. He, saw how much the
first blow meant to him since wap was
being forced on him. and he couldn't
afford to wait until his people were
hemmed in like rats in a trap. He
stvuck for life and liberty and we
have learned what he meant when he
spoke of the price that would stag
ger humanity
AFTER the war commenced, and at
the battle of Dundee, secret documents
were captured showing the contemp,a-
tion of this war by the British war of
fice as far Back as 1896, Just after the
infamous Jamison raid. And still they
tell us 1t was only the franchise that
caused all fhis unholy murder and
bloodshed. Shame ON the American
that believes such a statement! Shame
IN tho Amariean that avan hroo tbao q