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N the opening pages of the Year Book is an account of the meeting of the Holland Society on Oct. 2, 1899, at which resolutions were adopted were adopted expressing sympathy with the South African Republic.

This meeting was the forerunner of similar gatherings of the citizens of the United States held throughout the country, whereat like expressions were heartily adopted.

These resolutions were engrossed and sent to President Kruger by registered mail, Oct. 10, 1899 (on the very eve of actual hostilities), enclosed with the following letter:

THE HOLLAND SOCIETY OF NEW YORK.

NEW YORK, October 3d, 1899.

HON. PAUL Kruger,

President,

The South African Republic.

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DEAR SIR, I have the honor to inform you that at a Special Meeting of The Holland Society of

New York, held Monday, October Second, 1899, the Resolutions, copies of which are appended, were adopted. The President, Tunis G. Bergen, Esq., appointed as the committee to act with himself in presenting these resolutions to the President of the United States, the following gentlemen, namely, Hon. Augustus Van Wyck and Hon. George M. Van Hoesen.

Respectfully yours,

THEODORE M. BANTA,

TUNIS G. BERGEN,

President.

Secretary.

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE HOLLAND SOCIETY OF NEW YORK,

October Second, 1899.

Resolved-That The Holland Society of New York, composed exclusively of descendants of Dutch burghers resident in the Colony of New Netherland before 1675, sympathizing deeply with the burghers of the South African Republic in their struggle for the maintenance of their independence and autonomy, earnestly appeal to the Government of the United States to use its good offices with the Government of Great Britain for the preservation of peace between England and the Transvaal, and for the settlement of the points in dispute between those two nations in a manner that will save to the South African Republic the rights guaranteed to it by the convention of 1884.

Resolved-That a committee consisting of the President of this Society, and two members selected by him, be authorized to present to the President of the United States a copy of the foregoing resolutions, and to urge upon him speedy action that war may be averted between Great Britain and the South African Republic, or if war still occurs, that peace may be concluded upon terms that the conscience of mankind will not condemn.

THEODORE M. BANTA,

Secretary.

June 25, 1900, the Secretary received from the "Dead Letter Office," at Washington, the envelope (and contents), stamped "Stopped by Censor

Mail service suspended," indicating that it had reached the British postal authorities in South Africa, and had been returned by them.

June 29, 1900, the letter was sent to Mr. Leyds, the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic in Europe, enclosed with the following letter and accompanied by the communication to the widow of General Joubert, which follows:

HON. W. J. LEYDS,

NEW YORK, June 27, 1900.

Minister Plenipotentiary, Brussels.

DEAR SIR,-October 2d of last year, upon the initiative of the Secretary, a meeting of The Holland Society of New York was held, whereat resolutions were adopted expressive of sympathy with the South African Republic in its troubles with Great Britain. This was the first of numerous meetings of a similar character held by American Citizens throughout our Country. Our action was cabled to President Kruger and acknowledgment received by cable.

A few days later, namely, October 10th, a letter was sent by Registered Mail enclosing the full text of the Resolutions.

This letter has just been returned to me from the "Dead Letter Office," at Washington. As you will see it reached South Africa and was stopped by the British censor. On the suggestion of Mr. Abraham Fischer, I take the liberty of enclosing the letter to you, just as it was returned, in the hope that you may find the means of forwarding it to its destination.

I enclose also a communication to the widow of General Joubert in the hope that you may be able to transmit it to her, as our ordinary mails to the Transvaal are interrupted.

I have had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the Envoys who have come from South

Africa, and regret that they do not carry back with them more substantial proofs of the profound sympathy which the great mass of the American people undoubtedly feel for the intrepid Republics battling against such enormous odds to preserve their independence.

66

Freedom's battle once begun,

Bequeathed by bleeding sire to son,

Though conquered oft, is ever won."

We hope that Providence will yet raise up as powerful friends for your people as we found in France, in the darkest hour of our own Seven Years' War for Independence.

With sentiments of personal esteem, I am,
Yours sincerely,
THEODORE M. BANTA,

MRS. P. J. JOUBERT,

Secretary.

NEW YORK, June 15, 1900.

Pretoria, South African Republic.

DEAR MADAM,- A meeting of the Trustees of The Holland Society of New York was held last evening, their first stated gathering since the lamented death of your distinguished husband.

We recalled the occasions when in 1890 our Society had the honor of entertaining General Joubert at a banquet, and when at a reception given at the residence of our President, Hon. Robert B. Roosevelt, we had the pleasure of making your acquaintance also.

The Trustees instructed the Officers of the Society to convey to you the expression of our most sincere sympathy in the great bereavement which has befallen you personally in the loss of your illustrious consort, and which your afflicted country has experienced in being deprived of his invaluable services in this time of its sore need.

As we have known of General Joubert, in the purity of his life, the wisdom of his statesmanship, the pre-eminence of his military genius, the devo

tion of his life to the interests of his beloved country-the brave little Republic amid the mountains and veldts of South Africa-we feel that his name will ever be held in admiration and reverence, not only in the Transvaal, but in America and throughout the world wherever men love Liberty and exalt those who are its heroes and martyrs.

We pray that the Republics to which General Joubert consecrated his life may be preserved, and that your heroic land may ever be the home of Freemen.

With the hope that you may find some consolation in your sorrow by the assurance that in this far-off commonwealth, founded by our common ancestors, you have warm friends who tenderly regard and esteem the name of Joubert, we subscribe ourselves, on behalf of The Holland Society of New York,

Your kinsmen,

(Signed) HENRY VAN DYKE, President,
(Signed) THEODORE M. BANTA, Secretary.

EMBASSY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC,

8 LIVOURNE STREET, BRUSSELS,

July 11, 1900.

TO THEODORE M. BANTA, ESQ., Secretary of The Holland Society of New York :

your

SIR, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of letter of the 27th ult., and in reply to state that the enclosed letters to his Honor the State President and to the widow of General Joubert will be duly forwarded by me to the respective parties.

Allow me to thank you most heartily for the great sympathy you and your Society show with the just and righteous cause of my sorely pressed people, fighting for their liberty and independence. I have the honor to be

Your obedient servant,
W. J. LEYDS.

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