New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-06
POMP AND COMMONPLACE.
LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL DESCRIBES
THE BOER PARLIAMENT
From his letter in The london Daily Graphic.

Ffom ms ieuer IN TIC LONDON Daily Graphic
observed a combination OF pomp and oommorr,
which was somewhat amusing The First t'% cSaDmss
Tor the House Of Commons transact their bnsiness
lofty spacious and welproportiOned haIi, painted 4,
red and green, the National colos decorated Win IN
arms Of the South African Republic largely disnI.r@
and with fnength portrait o. tho present Pres,Ssesr
tho whole length Of the hall on Ills right L
for the President and again. the right Of the Pr
splcnous among whom was General Joubert Below ~
another platform are seated two clerks who rad ogs
10 the Assembly the orders Of the day and the Cow
tents OF bills memorials petitions TO these clerE
Is also confded the ardnous duty Of taking down q.
Of the hall ranged the members sealed az LOOT
long, narrow, parallel tables, slightly curved In ~
form Of An horseshoe Be-, some thirty members wcr.
up around Ar The wall messenger or doOrkeeper in
sort sort. OF gt snTcE shooting Jacket heavy walking
members. and represented 10 my mind the dcce .ns
and welattlred officials Of our own Parliament. The
members speak from their places when called upon b9
The discussions Of the vOlSsraad in either chsr,.,
are often Of extreme simplicity, ard indeed friyoiIp
The Second Chamber a short time ago n ,a,ssod y
length with much gravity, and at times with so,cs
heat and aspery, The question of how its members
should be atired. IL wa at length resolved thsI
tall white hat, white tie and black coat should b. ihs
prescribed costume. may add that this seo@d
First Chamber the following Incident Occurred 8:
Beer. who sit next one onotl9r, have the Tcanssss
10 be exceedingly nervous and shy. Immediately ars
the afternoon opening, at p. IN, Mr.. Benkes dIs.
De Beer who loudly exclaimed Mr. Chairman S e th e,
S rs Is Mr De BeerA as NE Chat
man.. The Chairman-t won't bite yOu, II Is dead.
Take that. The Charman-Or1er now lei us mn.
coed with the work; Come here, messenger and kks
that lizard away. Mr.. De Beer then resumed his spst
crying TO Mr. Bcnkes, "You were more afraid thar
was" The President with difficulty sometimes con-
trolls and gets his way with these assemblies In oN
10 n aTrn he Il
his resignation in case they did not agree with him
This method having become weak by Over.use he H.;
members who were dlspntlng with him that Il they
did not yield he would reduce their salaries They
mentioned that the members Of either House receive
salary OF 60 per diem while the houses are in session.
The President constant attendat and ' ias 90
frequent part in the debates that the jealousy Of tho
from time to time made TO restrain the eloquent inter-
ference Of the head Of the State had the advantage
standing the Dutch language noticed that the speaker,
combined huency with brevity that their manner
S Sne q RE ease and d. Of dignity their se S natural
dent himself take part In the debate. Three times he
spoke with much deliberate composure, but by no
means without animation. The two chambers 81
from 2. m. 70 p. IN. and from p. m. till p. m.
They adjourn however; for few minutes every hour
ior the purpose Of smoking and conversation During
one Of the adjournments Of the Second Chamber bad
ne the honor of being presented 70 the President HI,
tall and rather stout. with grave shrewd but by nd
means unklndly countenance. At the moment Of al.
lournment he had lit a short pipe at which he pgfd
hastily ard impetuOusly. Other members were walk
Ing about the chamber also smoking. Some Of the.
manners the English Parliament might copy with ges
advantage His Honor good enough 10 express 10
me the opinion that the Boer trek into MashOnalsnt
which has been so much talked about would give De
TO no trouble anxiety whatever, but that on the
other hand, BOer settlers in Mashonaland would be n
great advantage and assistance TO the Chartered Com
psny. In answer 10 an inquiry from me Ills Honor
also expressed the opinion that the Matabele wOud
show no hostility against the white settlement IN
Mashonaland long as their own proper country was
In no way interfered with. The Presidents manner
was extremely gracious and genial and II not
difficult. after only few minutes Of conversation win
him and OF observation Of him. 10 understand the ea,
and strong influence which he has acquired and retained
over his countrymen. He lives very quietly, never
entertainsndeed he never gives bite or sup 10 soul
He Is reported to have amassed large fortune. One
Of the curiOsities Of the BOer Constitution which sh0uf
be noted IS that during the OF Parliament the
President has power Of his own authority TO issus
proclamations having the force Of law, which and
remain valid until the meeting Of the First Chamber,
when they are confirmed or dlsallOwed. This power.
which obviously open to the greatest abuse has BEEN
it Is asserted, much abused.