The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-09-08
THE BOERS
DEFIANT
Violent Speeches in the Raad
Over Miners Reply.
Burghers Think War Certain =
Kruger Insists That Chamberlain
is Aiming at the Destruction of
the Republic and Says the Beers
will Never Give up their Indepen-
dence.

Pretoria, Sept. S.-There was great ex-
citement in the first raad yesterday on
Mr.. Coetzer's Interpolation of the gov
ernment regarding the presence of Brit
ish troops on the borders and the stop
page of ammunition consigned to the
Transvaal.
President Kruger, the members of the
executive council and most of the princi-
pal officials were present, together with a
large representation of the general pub
lie, including many ladies.
AT the outset the chairman and presi-
dent urged members to preserve calmness
and to avoid insulting language.
The state secretary, Mr.. F. w. Reitz,
said he had called the previous day on
the British diplomatic agent, Mr.. Con-
yngham Greene, and had asked him what
reply the government could give in the
volksraad regarding the alleged massing
Of British troops on the borders and
whether Mr.. Greene would communicate
with the British high commissioner, Sir
Alfred Miner.
The reply from Mr.. Greene, Mr.. Reitz
said, had been received and was in the
following terms:
"The following is Sir Alfred Miners
reply to the telegram which l sent him at
your request:
I don't know to what Mr.. Reitz re-
fers when he alludes to the massing of
troops. This must be the British troops
in South Africa, the position and num-
bers of which are no secret, but it is a
matter of common knowledge that they
are hero In order to protect British inter-
ests and to make provision against event.
ualities.'
NJ -.
made violent speeches, declaring that
they could not understand Sir Alfred
Miners reply, since sthe Transvaal had
never threatened the English colonies.
TransvaaI Should Also Prepare.
''It is time" exclaimed Mr. Coetzer,
"for the Transvaal also to prepare for
eventualities."
One member said, "England's action is
like putting a revolver into a mans
face"
Another concluded warlike harangue
IN this strain:
1T is time to send our burghers to the
borders to ask these troops what they
want. The fire is bound to start, so let
them light it and allow it to burn out
quickly. War is better than the present
state of affairs. Business is ruined, and
the public treasury is drying up. Cham
berlain is trying to ruin the country"
These speeches and others attacking
Cecil Rhodes were loudly applauded by
the house and by the public.
Mr. Tosen, who declared that Sir AL
fred Miners reply was tantamount to
declaration of war, read telegram from
the field cornet of the Pietrietief district
stating that the people there would rise
in rebellion if President Kruger went to
another conference.
The chairman called Mr.. Tosen to or
der for saying that the Jameson raiders
ought to have been hanged.
Mr.. j. NJ. A. Wolmarans, one of the
two nonofficial members of the executive
counoiL counseled prudence and caution.
He said it would be wise for the raad to
decide whether the republic should con-
cede further negotiations or not.
Kruger More Moderate.
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 fran
chise, which the uitlanders do not want
but what he really desires is possession
of the Transvaal. The burghers are will
ing to concede much for the sake of
peace, but will never sacrifice their inde
pendence."
After eulogizing Mr.. Gladstone's action
of retrocession in 1881 as a 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 moderation, reminding
them that the reply from Mr.. Chamber
lain was en- route and pointing out that
If the proposal for a commission were