The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-05-09
LIBERAL VIEWS
The Government Questioned Re-
garding the Raid Into the
Transvaal.
Sir William HarcOurt Thinks
the Government Was
Responsible
For the Acts of the Officers of
the Chartered Company.
The CryptOgrams..

LONDON, May 9.-The house OF COM
mons was crowded and the peers gal
;ery was packed. this gathering OF In.
terested people being due to the fact
that the vote OH the colonial estimates
was to be taken, and that it was to be
made the occasion Of an important
series of questions on South African
affairs. Ambassador Bayard was among
those present.
The Liberal leader, Sir William Har.
court, asked the government to make .
statement regarding the raid into the
Transvaal. In so doing. he said that
the opposition had heretofore not un'
duly pressed the government on this
important matter, but they thought the
time had now arrived for the house to
be informed of the governments in.
tention in the case.
Hold the Govern nment Responsibis.
The responsible directors OF the Brit
ish Chartered South Africa company at
Cape Town and Johannesburg were,
he said, the authors of the raid and
DR.. Jameson was only their subordin.
ate. The government, the speaker
claimed, was responsible for the acts OF
the Chartered company, before the na.
ton and the world. (Applause from
the benches of the opposite side.)
Continuing, Sir William Harcourt
remarked that the partisans of the COM
pany were trying to pass of on the
credulity of the people that the raid
was an impulsive action to protect the
people of Johannesburg against out.
rage. But, he could not think OF any
thing more revolving than the low
slang of the cryptograms which showed
the true aspect OF the affair.
Analysed the TelegrAms.
Sir William Harcourt then proceeded
to analyze the kilograms, exchanged
between Cecil Rhodes, Colonel Rhodes.
Rutherford Harris, Alfred Belt. Lionel
Phillips, DR.. Jameson and others, just
previous to the invasion of the territory
Of the South African Republic. Later
the opposition leader eulogized the
promptness, decision and courage Of
the secretary of state for the colonies,
MIR. Joseph Chamberlain, and dwelt
upon the course of the Chartered com.
pany, declaring that it jeopardfzed
Great Britain's reputation.
Sir William Harcourt also said he did
not believe that Cecil Rhodes was
actuated by the desire Of gain, but
rather by greed Of power.
The speaker also remarked that he
had noticed with regret the detioration
Of the morals Of the English press in
dealing with the subject.
should Remember Past Ser vices.
Mr.. Chamberlain, replying to Sir
William Harcourt, said that while
Cecil Rhodes actions were universally
condemned, his past services must not
be forgotten. But for Englishmen like
Rhodes, English history would be
much poorer, and the British domin.
ions would be much smaller Gap
plause.)
Both the English and the Africanders
of the Cape. he continued, thought
Cecil Rhodes the greatest benefactor
the colony had ever had. He was pow.
erless in future to do mischief, as not
an armed man could be moved without
the authority Of the governments own
officers, and they were ready to give
President Kruger any reasonable guar.
antee.
With the view of removing every
shadow Of suspicion, the government
had refused to advise the Chartered
company relative to Mr.. Rhodes resig
nation.
Might Havs Joint Isq.iry.
After the judicial proceedings wers
ended, the government, added Mr.