Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-09-08
THE RAAO EXCITED.
Fiery Speeches Denunciatory Of England =
Pres. Kruger Counsels Moderation.

Pretoria, Sept. There was great
excitement in the first Raad today. on
Mr.. Coetsers Interpolation Of the gov
ernment regarding the presence OF
the British troops on the borders and
the stoppage Of ammunition consigned
to the Tranvaal.
President Kruger. the members Of
the Executive Council and most of the
principal officers were present, also rep
resentation of the general public
At the outset the chairman and
President urged the members to pre-
serve calmness and To avoid insulting
language.
The secretary OF state. Mr.. F. w
ReitZ. said he had called the previous
day on the British diplomatic agent,
Mr.. Conyngham Greene and had
asked him what reply the government
could give in the Volksraad regarding
the alleged massing " British troops
on the borders and whether Mr.. Greene
would communicate with the British
high commissioner. Sir Alfred Milner
The reply from Mr.. Greene. he con-
tiucd. had been received. this morning
ana was in the following terms:
Dear Mr.. Reitz: The following is
Sir Alfred Miners reply to the tele-
gram which | sent him at your re-
quest: 4 don't know To what Mr.
ReitZ refers when ne alludes TO the
massinG Of troops This must be the
British troops in South Africa, the po-
sition and numbers of which are no
secret: but ii is a matter of common
knowledge that they are here i'm order
u.
provisions against eventualities.'
Mr.. Coetzer and other members then
made violent speeches. declaring that
they could not understand Sir Alfred
Miners reply. since the Transvaal had
never threatened the English colonies.
1T is time" exclaimed Mr.. CoetZer.
for the Transvaal also to prepare for
eyentualities.
one member said: "Englands action
is like putting a revolver into a mans
face
Another concluded a warlike ha
raneue in this strain: 1T is time to send
our burghers To the borders 10 ask
these troops what they want. The fire
is bound to start. So let them light il
and allow ii to burn out quickly. War
is better than the present state of af-
fairs. business is ruined and the pub
lie treasury is drying up. Chamber
lain is irving to ruin the country.
These speeches and others attacking
Cecil Rhodes were loudly applauded by
the House and by the public. The de-
bate continued throughout the after
noon.
Mr.. Toson. who declared that Sir Al
fred Miners reply was tantamount to
a declaration of war. read a telegram
from the field cornet of the Piettretief
district stating that people there would
rise in rebellion if President Kruger
went to another conference. The
chairman called Mr.. Tosen to order for
saying that the Jameson raiders ought
to have been hanged.
Mr. j. NJ. A. Wolmarans, one of the
non official members of the executive
counsel. counselled prudence and eau
ton. He said it would be wise for the
Raad to decide whether the republic
should concede further negotiations or
not
President Kruger, rising, said The
aliens have been offered equal rights
with the burghers, but have refused
them. Mr. Chamberlain is striving to
get the franchise which the Outland-
ers do not want; but what he really
desires is possession of the Transvaal.
The burehers are willing to concede
much for the sake OF peace, but will
never sacrifice their independence"
After eulogizng Mr.. Gladstone's act
ion of retrOceSsiOn in 1881 as noble
deed, President Kruger said that. if it
now came to fighting. the Almighty
would be the arbiter. He urged the
members of the Raad to show modera-
ton. reminding them that the reply
from Mr.. Chamberlain was en- route
and pointing out that if the proposal
for commission We're agreed to- the
republic would send delegates to fur
ther discuss matter, and, if possible, to
make peace.
The speeches following the Presi-
dents were more moderate in tone and
the Raad rose without passing any res
olution.