Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 105, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1899 — BOERS TALK OF WAR. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BOERS TALK OF WAR.

HEATED SPEECHES IN TRANSVAAL LEGISLATURE.* * * • Concentration of British Troop* on the Republic** Frontier Considered •* a Menace—Temper of the English People la Plainly Shown in London. In the Volksraad at Pretoria Thursday Secretary of State Reitz read the reply of Sir Alfred Milner, British high commissioner in South Africa, to the Transvaal’s query as to why Great Britain was concentrating troops on the border of the Transvaal. It was to the effect that the British troops are being concentrated to guard British interests and as a preparation against contingencies. A debate followed, regarding the mobilization of the British troops. The speeches were bellicose, and were applauded by the members and by the people in the public galleries. President Kruger appealed to the orators to moderate their tone, Jonkherr Dutoit said that he had had experience in the past of British treachery. If there would be war the Afrikanders would stand together. The Transvaal could go no further than she had gone, and as the British were sending forces toward the frontier the Transvaal must do likewise. Jonkherr Wolmaraus asserted that Mr. Chamberlain was attempting coercion, and that troops were not necessary for peaceful negotiations. He urged an immediate counter move by the troops of the Transvaal. Jonkherr Van Rensburg attacked the British annexation proclivities. He declared that agitators of the Rhodes clique wanted to get possession of the Transvaal to cover their failure and fraud in Rhodesia. Jonkherr Tosen considered Sir Alfred Milner’s reply equivalent to a declaration of war by Great Britain. Jonkherr Wolmarens, who is a member of the executive council, here interrupted Jonkherr Tosen, saying: “It is nothing of the kind.” Jonkherr Tosen read a telegram from the Pietretief district, stating that the people there would rise in rebellion if President Kruger went to another conference. State Attorney Smutts said the burghers whom he represented had instructed him not to budge., but he would persuade them to allow him to do so if peace could thereby be preserved. He feared, however, that this was hopeless, as the independence of the Afrikanders was assailed. Jonkherr Botha insinuated that Mr. Chamberlain was influenced by his brother, who was chairman of the firm of Kynochs, ammunition manufacturers, which Was in opposition to Nobel’s ring in the dynamite matter. Other speakers declared that the Jameson raiders were robbers and murderers, and should have been hanged. The debate continued until late

In the afternoon and the Volksraad was worked into a pitch of patriotic fervor. In the course of the debate President Kruger said that aliens had been offered equal rights with the burghers, but would not take them. Mr. Chamberlain’ was striving to get a franchise, which the Uitlanders did not want. He feared that Mr. Chamberlain really aimed to get possession of the country. The burghers were willing to give much for the sake of peace, but they would not sacrifice their independence. He eulogized Mr. Gladstone’s retrocession in 1881 as a noble deed. The President added that if It now came to fighting the Alipighty would be the arbiter. The Volksraad rose without passing the resolution which had called forth the debate. Advices from the Transvaal show that the Boers have arranged everything so as to be able to cope with hostilities the Instant they are declared. The British cabinet council in London Friday attracted greater public interest than any meeting of the ministers for years past. Although the foreign office has not given out a statement, the general impression was that no ultimatum would be sent to the Transvaal at present and that a time limit will be placed for a conference at Cape Town.

COMMANDER OF THE BOERS.