On the same day the President was interviewed by a deputation of Americans from Johannesburg.  They were men of the highest position and influence in the community and were earnestly desirous of securing reforms, but they were impressed with the idea that peaceful means had not yet been exhausted and that the President and his Executive would listen to reason if they were convinced that serious consequences would follow the neglect to reform.  The President received them civilly, as he often does when he has a strong hand to play:  it is generally when his cards are poor that he gives way to the paroxysms of rage and indulges in the personal abuse and violent behaviour which have earned for him so unenviable a reputation.  He listened to all that had been advanced by the deputation, and then said that ’it was no time to talk when danger was at hand.  That was the time for action.’  The deputation represented to him that there was no danger at hand unless the President by his own act precipitated matters and caused the trouble himself, that matters were completely in his hands, and that if he would deal with the people in a liberal and statesmanlike way and grant the reforms which were universally acknowledged to be necessary there would not be anywhere in the world a more law-abiding and loyal community than that of Johannesburg.  The President answered merely by the question:  ‘If a crisis should occur, on which side shall I find the Americans?’ The answer was, ‘On the side of liberty and good government.’  The President replied, ’You are all alike, tarred with the same brush; you are British in your hearts.’

In reply to another deputation, representing a section of the community which was not by any means at one with the reformers, but the leading members of which still urged the necessity for reforms, the President said, ’Either you are with me in the last extremity or you are with the enemy; choose which course you will adopt.  Call a meeting to repudiate the Manifesto in its entirety, or there is final rupture between us.’  The gentlemen addressed declared emphatically that on the Manifesto there could be no retreat.  On that Johannesburg was absolutely at one.  The President replied, ’Then, I shall know how to deal with Johannesburg,’ and left the room.

The various business associations of Johannesburg and Pretoria approached the President at different hours in these threatening times, and did all that was possible to induce him to make reasonable concessions.  Although numbers of his followers and counsellors were strongly in favour of doing something to avert the coming storm, the President himself seemed inclined to fight until the last ditch was reached rather than concede anything.  In reply to the Mercantile Association he said that he was quite willing to give the franchise, but that it would be to those who were really worthy of it—­those for instance who rallied round the Government in this crisis and took no part in the mischievous agitation and clamouring