The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-09
REoPENING OF THE vOLKsRAAD.
President Kruger Declares the People Will Do
Everything For Peace.
(By the Associated Press.)

Pretoria. May (Monday.) The
official closing of the 1899 \olksraad.
which broke up unofhcially in Sep
tember last, took place today. The
vacant seats of General .loubert and
General De Cock and others were
filled with flowers. The hall was
crowded. a large number of ladies
being present.
In the prayer of the chaplain an
.ailusion was made to General Jou-
bert. and many were moved to tears.
After the prayer the Raad adjourned
to the afternoon. when the session
of 1900 was inaugurated. The cere-
monies were accompanied by the Gus
tomarv salute. President Kruger ar
rived in the State carriage with the
usual escort All the diplomatists
and foreign attaches, including Gen
cral Gourko. the Russian attache,
were present.
The Raadzaa was crowded to its
fullest capacity, and the scene was
most impressive. President Kruger,
in his speech opening the session.
alluded feelingly to the vacancies.
referring to General ,Joubcrt he said:
Future generations will be able to
Judge the work of the deceased. whose
demeanor inspired the enemy with
respect and whose humane and brave
conduct gave fame and importance to
the State among civilized nations"
lie was profoundly struck, he said,
by the proof of sincere friendship
given by the people of the Free State
who had fulfilled their obligations to
the TranSvaal under the treaty. They
realized that a united front was re-
uuired. as an attack upon the indie
pendence of the Transvaal meant a
threat against the free State. He had
implicit confidence in the future OF
the Afrikander nation.
BY deeds the Free State had shown,
the President declared. q good example
to the people of the Transvaal, which
had proved of great moral value to
those guiding the efforts of small
State to maintain its independence.
He was pleased to say that the rela-
tions of the Transvaal with foreign
states with the exception of Great
Britain, were good.
After referring To the peace pro-
posals of the President of both re-
publics to Lord Salisbury, President
Kruger said:
I'VE have proved by Legislation and
our dealings with Great Britain last
wear that it was our desire to pre-
serve peace and now that war has
broken out. we will do everything to
restore peace.
After alluding to the deputation
now on mission to Europe and the
United States and the presence of so
many attaches, proving the intense
interest of the powers in the repub-
lies. and to their methods of fighting,
he said he was pleased to see that
the sympathy of the world was on
their side in the war that ambu-
lances had been sent and that their
friends were united in endeayoring
TO alleviate the distress caused by
the struggle.
After reference to alleged violations
of the Red Cross convention and to
the consequent protests of foreign
powers. President Kruger continued: ::
Notwithstanding the difficult cir
cumstance. am glad to say that our
finances Will enable us to bear the
great expense of the war and that
the mines are flouriShin@"
The President concluded with a
reference to the Free State loan and
suggested that the session be not long
prolonged and that only matters of
Importance be dealt with. In a mov-
ing peroration he invoked the bless
ing and help of the Almighty.
The proceeding terminated with
unusually impressive speeches and
Continued on Second Page.)