The Beer War.

Otago Witness, Issue 2507, 9 April 1902, Page 19

The Beer War.

TO THE EDITOS. Sic. — Tf there should be some of youi r~ad r& htiii ignorant of the hue fects of the case in connection with tho Boc-r war, they may poesibly take to heart a few plain facts of tKe case, pointed out to the Beer delegates to America when they were lately in Chicago trying to obtain a&sistance— facts which show, to our shame, that our cousins in America see more clearly and judge more truly in things that concern ouiselves than some of our people are capable cf doing. In Cliicagaa fsw weeks Eincc Mr Thomas Gould, a much esteemed citizen, was deputed to reply to the Boer delegates. His reply he handed to them in an,, open letter, which has sicne been printed copy of which J enclose), trusting tb&t you will be able to find space for it in an fariy issue. I think your readers will agree with the opinion formed of it in "^America" as a "^fieech wh'icl; for plain speaking, wholesome^ truth, and s candid* sizing up of the Transvaal pesirioc it -would be difficult to beat."—! am-, etc., B. Wichtmax. Christchurch, Anril 4. You issued (said Mr Gould to the d;-!e gates) an ultimatum to Gretit Britain commanding her to withdraw the 'troops from her even teivitoiy within a given number of days. Great Britain not having removed her trcops as ordered by you, you immediately invaded the nearest British territory, took forcible possession of it, annexed it by proclamation to ycur own country" established local government in every town that you occupied, levied taxes on the inhabitants, and, in fact, acted as absolute owners of the country. This is what you ea!! fighting for your independence. Some of those poitions of British colcniss have been "occupied by you for six months. The British did not invade your country. Oh! but you say that ihey intended to do so. Thi s is p mere assertion, unsupported , by -evidence. We tire dr-a'ing with facts, and the facts are that you were the- aggteaaovs, the invaders, the declarers of war; and yet you come before us as a peaceful, agricultural people, who. only want to be let alone, and ask fpr our sympathy . The ip ct is you begas\4.his- war. in a .lnoinent of madness, when you Were sjifioririg from what" the Americans call swelled head? Nbw, when things eeern to be going against -yon, you rim lound the v/orld for sytnpathy. You play foi big stakes, and you have lost. .The game you havo been tiying to is .generally called " heads I win, tails you lose." Yon -in-vadecl and annexed a neighbouring country. That vas all righi in your 1 eyes. Providence; seemed on your side, and all was well ; but when the tide turned, as any men but lunatics knew it would tuin, you ory.out, " Spare" our independ ence ; we are simple farmers." This won't do, gentlemen of the Boer deputations! The Am-Drican people are not suchj fools >as you think. You say you are fightmg~for the same principle that our American forefather^ did in the end of the last century. I can use plain language as well as President Kruger : and I say that statement is a deliberate lie. Our forefathers fought because they objected to be taxed without any representation in the taxing body. That system of taxation without representation i 3 the very thing that you Boers have been carrying out in South Africa. You havo bsen taxing Englishmen, Americans, Germans, and all foreigners without giving them any voice in the government of the country. In fact, you are righting against the principle* that our forefathers fought for, and you know it ; yet you come here and ask foi sympathy! \ou want someone to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for you, and you fix upon the American neople as the greatest fools — a compliment we appreciate at its right value. My personal opinion is that the only mistake—the ciiminn.l mistake, I would aay — which Britibh Government made wad in saving you from the Kaffirs, who, but for England's interference, would have wiped you off the lice of the eaith. The Northern Weekly Leader. Xewcastle-or.-Tyne, England, begins an article thus: — - Some sensation was caused at the beginning of the week by a very strong speech, delivered by Mr Seddon. tho Prints ifiniator of Federated Australia, in condemnation of the action of the Home (•Jovernmi'iit in purchasing mutton for the tioops iv South Africa from Argentina