Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-05-09
NO BOMBAST OR BLUSTER
President Krueger's Speech at
Opening of the Volksraad.
Was Moderate Ina TOne-He Meets All
the Situations Presented Fairly
A strong, But Peace-LOving P.IAcy
OutIined-HammOnd and Other Con-
victed American Prisoners VIII BE
More Leniently Dealt With in the
Future-The Case OF Cecil Rhodes.

Pretoria, May 4,-(Delayed in trans
mission THE volksraad parliament OF
the Transvaal) was opened today by
President Kruger Great and most
unusual interest was taken in the pro.
ceedings in view of the recent dis
closures made by the publication of the
cipher kilograms exchanged between
Cecil Rhodes, then premier of Cape
Colony, and others who took more or
less important part in the Jameson raid
in the territory of the Boer republic.
The town was crowded with Beers,
many of whom had ridden hundreds OF
miles in order to be present here when
the velksraad reassembled, as its present
session is looked upon as being one of
the most Important In the history of the
little republic. Numbers of these sturdy
lighting farmers came here days ago in
order to bring their influence to bear
upon members of the executive council
in the hope of bringing about the mili-
CATION, If not the entire Communication. of
the sentences of the convicted leaders
OF the johannesburg reform committee.
1t is useless to deny that the publication
of the series of discriminating kilograms
had put decided damper upon the
efforts of the Beers to lessen the pun
ishment of the prisoners, but it is said
much may depend upon the action of
the British government towards Cecil
Rhodes, Alfred Belt, the director of the
British South Africa company who took
an important part in organizing the
raid, and towards Il company itself, to
say nothing of the punishment which
may be melted out to DR.. Jameson and
his immediate associates. John Hays
Hammond, the convicted American
engineer, will, however, be more len.
iently dealt with than his fellow prison
ers in view of the fact that he was op
posed to actual rebellion against the
Transvaal authorities.
The vicinity of the parliament build
ing was crowded with picturesque
gathering of Beers long before the hour
for the opening of its proceedings. anc
warm indeed were the commentator,
passed upon the diplomacy of 'Oom
Paul." who has SO cleverly outfencec
the British secretary of state for tht
colonies, Joseph Chamberlain, from frs
to last, and who is now so completed,
master of the situation that he tower
head and shoulders over everybody anC
everything connected with south Africa
The president in his speech said tina
the recent events "due to malevolenc,
and selfish objects" had seriously inter
rupted the rest and peace of the Soutl
African republic, adding:
at has been ever my wish TO promot
the development and prosperity of tn
4 republic In the most peaceable name
t possible, SO l am firmly convinced tina
it is your sincere wish to cooperate will
me in this policy, and that you expect
with tine fullest confidence, that thi
+ session of the volksraad will contribute
4 in no small manner to the restoration
5 Of peace in this state, in order that
! through our united cooperation, GU
country may flourish and prosper 70
the benefit of all, loud applause.l
The president then touched upon tn
e foreign relations of the South Africa
{ republic, the most delicate and eagcrl
5 anticipated portion of the speech, say
f ing: "In spite of past troubles, the re
+ publis continues to maintain friendl
: relations with foreign powers" Thi
c subject was then significantly droppe
y and the president turned to the relation
between the south African republic an
o It's sister republic, the Orange Ere
c State, remarking:
e II hope that a meeting between rel
e resentatives OF the Orange Free Sta
d and representatives of the South Afr
# can republic will shortly be held, ar
$. plans for a closer union between tt
d two countries will be discussed" IA
e plause)
This ulterance of President Krueg
was looked upon as confirming the r
port that negotiations have for son
time past been on foot for an allianc
" offensive and defensive between Il
. South African republic and the Oranl
= Free State looking to resisting any !
:, tempt upon the part OF Great Brita
TO interfere with the internal affairs
either country.
The president afterwards alluded in
appropriate manner to the terrible dyn
mite disaster just outside of Johanna
$, burg on February 10, when about Oh
hundred and twenty persons were kill
rs and thousands were rendered homelel
M In this connection, the president a
Is knowledged the assistance rendered
$, the Uitlanders of the Rand to the Be
te authorities, the foreigners having te
es DERBY cared for the wounded and collie
II ed about 100000, in the first twent
m four hours after the explosion for I
I'd relief of the suffering.
r. Continuing, the president turned
ks the mining interests of the South AT
d. can republic, declaring that mining "
t progressing in a prosperous mann
e. and that the labor question which
IN one time threatened to interfere WI
lie al 81 81 !