The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-08
BoERs GROWING EXCITED.
WarIike Harangues Over the Massin8
cs Troops ON the Border.


WarIike Harangues Over the Massins
cs Troops ON the Border.
PRETORIA, Sept There was great ex-
citemept in the first Raad to-day on Mr..
Ccetzer's Interpolation of the government
regarding the presence of British troops on
the borders and the stoppage of ammunition
consigned to the Transvaal. President
Kruger. the members of the executive coun-
Gil and most of the principal officials were
present. together with large representa-
ton Of the general public. including many
women. At the outset the chairman and
President urged members to preserve calm
ness and avoid insulting language.
The state secretary, +. W. Reitz, said he
had called the previous day on the British
diplomatic agent, Mr.. Conyngham Greene.
and had asked him what reply the govern
ment 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 COM
missioner. Sir Alfred Miner. The reply from
Mr.. Greene, he continued, had been received
this morning and was in the following
terms:
Alfred Miners reply to the telegram which
/ sent him at your request: I don't know to
the massing of troops. This must be the
British troops in South Africa, the position
and number Of which are no secret, but 1t
is a matter of common knowledge that
they are here in order to protect British in
terests and TO make provision against
eventualitieS.'
Mr.. Coetzer and other members then made
violent speeches. declaring they could not
understand Sir Alfred Miners reply since
the Transvaal had never threatened the
IT.
Mr.. Coetzer, for the Transvaal also to
prepare for eventualities.'
One member said: "Englands action Is
like putting revolver into a mans face"
Another concluded a 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. Chamberlain
is trying to ruin the country"
Mr.. Tosen, who declared that Sir Alfred
Miners reply was tantamount to declara-
ton of war, read a telegram from the field
cornet of the Pietretief district stating that
the people there would rise in rebellion il
President Kruger went to another confer
ence.
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 two
nonofficial members of the executive coun-
ell, counseled prudence and caution He said
it would be wise for the Rad to decide
whether the republic should concede fur
Their negotiations or not.
In the course of the debate Mr. Dutoit
insinuated that Mr.. Chamberlain was intox-
icated on the occasion of his recent famous
garden party speech" at Highbury, his
Birmingham residence, and he added that
if Mr.. Chamberlain continued to act as he
had been acting the Transvaai would give
him 'Mauser pills, which would be a good
purgative." He urged the House not to be
frightened by the show Of sending out Brit,
ish troops, remarking that Mr.. Chamber
lain must remember that when war has
been once started ne would have to fight
the whole of Afrikanderdom."
The chairman demonstrated with Mr. Du-
toit, observing that he thought the men,
Der had gone too far.
Mr.. Tosen asked whether the government
considered Sir Alfred Miners telegram a
declaration OF war.
Mr.. Wolmarans replied that personally he
did not think so, adding that the telegram
was as inexplcable to the executive as to
the Rad. Subsequently Mr.. Wolmarans
told the chamber that President Steyn, Of
the Orange Free State, had said that Por-
tugal must be called to account for STOP
ping the passage of ammunition.
President Kruger, who was greeted with
loud cheers, began his speech by saying
that might was not right, but that right
was might, and that he knew the Lord
ruled and was righteous, and would give a
| good judgment He said: 1.-The aliens
| have been offered equal rights with the
| burghers, but have refused them. Mr..
Chamberlain is striving to get the franchise,
| which the uitlanders do not want, but what
| vaal. The burghers are willing to concede
| much for the sake of peace, but will never
| sacrifice their independence"
After eulogizing Mr.. Gladstone's action of
retrocesson in 1881 as a noble deed, Pres
| ident Kruger said that if it now came to
| fighting the Almighty would be the arbiter.
| He urged the members of the Rad to show
| moderation, reminding them that the reply
| from Mr. Chamberlain was en- route. and
| pointing out that IL the proposal for a COM
| mission were agreed to the republic would
| send delegates to further discuss matters
| and, If possible. make peace,
The speeches following the Presidents
were more moderate in tone and the Rad
rose without passing any resolution.