The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-22

They Send n Message of sympathy to
kruger and Receive a Reply.

Thcy send n Message OF sympathy 10
Kruger and Receive a Reply.
CAPE TOWN, Sept. 21.-At a meeting OF
the Afrikander members of Parliament yes
terday. Mr.. Neethling presiding, the follow
ing telegram was dispatched to President
Kruger:
w Afrikander members of Parliament
thoroughly sympathize with our Afrikander
relatives in their troubles. While appreciat-
Ing the concessions already made in the in
terests of peace, We beg to urge the ex-
pediency of doing the utmost, short of sac
rifcing Independence, to avert the horrors of
war. While agreeing that the joint inquiry
proposed by Mr.. Chamberlain canno be
asked as a matter Of right, we believe such
a commission will provide a way out of the
difficulties which are fast approaching a
crisis. with results which might prove fatal.
not only to the civil and free state brethren,
but also to the Afrikander party Of Cape
Colony. In the presence of immediate dam
decision OF your honor, the executive and
the Volksraad, even the risk of being mis-
understood is of minor Importance. We beg
by a keen sense Of our common interests and
Volksraad."
This message, which was signed by fifty
three members OF Parliament, received the
following reply from President Kruger: II
wish you and other sympathizers will notice,
as you nave doubtless already seen by the
reply OF the imperial government. that we
have. according to your desire. considered
the matter and accepted the invitation TO the
delayed is shown by the dispatches pub
lished. L wish to thank you and other
friends once more. from my heart. for the
manner in which you have aided our Efforts
for a pacific and satisfactory solution.
Finally. l express the hope that your work
and ours will not be fruitless."
The meeting also adopted a resolution to
the effect that 1t had heard with satisfaction
fho ~ $50, -
copied the invitation Of the joint inquiry,
and trusted the acceptance would render an
outbreak Of hostilities practically impos-
sible.
Sir John Gordon Sprigg, leader of the op-
position in the Cape House Of Assembly,
and former premier and treasurer of Cape
Colony. in the course of an interview to-
day said: II have no doubt that a portion
OF the population of the colony would be
actively anti-British in the event of a war
with the Transvaal. 1 do not anticipate a
rising. but some young and impulsive Afri-
Handlers would probably show their sympa-
thies by joining the Boer forces. In my
judgment the proceedings at to-day's meet
ing Of Afrikander members Of the Cape
Parliament were most injudicious. No men
ton was made of any sympathy with those
who would suffer while lighting on the Brit
ish side. 1t is impossible that those who
are doing their best to uphold British au-
thority should conceive anything ir<the ma
ture OF a retirement from the position
adopted by the imperial government. Any
such weakness would be fatal to the future
maintenance of British authority in South
Africa"
Referring to the speech of Sir William
Vernon Harcourt last evening in New Ire
degar, England. Sir John said he consid-
cred it iii advised and injudicious," es-
pecially at the present juncture. In his
opinion Harcourt's assertion that Great
Britain could not claim general sovereignty
In the Transvaal, when she only had par
tial suzerainty. would do more than any
thing else to encourage disaffection. II
would remind the British public" said Sir
John. that Sir William Vernon Harcourt
was a member of the government really re-
sponsible for all the political troubles in
| South Africa since 1881"