St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-10
FIGHTING The MATABELES.
GLADSTONE'S GOVERNMENT cRI7I-
c.SED IN THE COMMONS.
THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Taxpayers Money Is Being
Spent to Swindle and Cheat
British Investors-The Fight
ing and Massacrin2 Should Be
Stopped-GladstOn Reply.

LONDON, Nov. Sit is reported here
that the British have won another vic
tory over the Matabeles. The rumor
that King LobeDgula has been captured
is uncOnfirmed. On the contrary, Sid
ney Buxton, parliamentary secretary
for the colonial office, read in the house
of commons today message from Sir
Henry Locke, high commissioner to the
Marquis of Ripon, secretary of state for
the colonies, saying that Maj. Giold-
Adams had reported to him under date
of Nov. 6. as follows: yesterday Maka-
lakos sent Oil asking for protection, and
stating that the column from the east
was in possession of Buluwayo. King
Lobengula and Yambo have fed. and
his large impi. or army, has also fed
towards the GWai river. Messages
from Maj. Adams have reached me coE-
firming the above. l am starting with
my columns for Buluwayo lmmedi-
ately."
Mr.. Buxton added that the news was
satisfa ctory, and he hoped there would
be no other hostilities. Mr.. Labouchere
moved to adjourn in order to call atten-
tion 10 the Matabee campaign. Mr.. La
bouchere was supported by nearly all
the Radicals below the gangway, and by
the anti-Parnellites, who rose in their
seats. Mr.. Labouchere said that he
moved to call attention to the bad policy
of permitting the chartered company to
establish any claim in regard to the Sc
curity of the government of Matabele-
land, or to continue the warlike opera
tions in the territory. He reviewed at
length the action of the company, which
was strongly condemned. Mr.. La;
bouchere contended that hostilities
against the Matabeles were deliberately
declared for the purpose of aggression.
There was nothing to seow that Kinh
Lobengula had intended to attack the
Mashonas or the chartered company.
The war might be prolonged and the
company might find itself unable to
cope successfully with it. The taxpay-
ers' money was being spent to enable
the company to get something IN order
to swindle and cheat British investors. :
Steps ought to be taken Immediately to
stop the filibuStering and maSsacring
now being practiced by the company.
MIR. Buxton replied that it was not
advisable to make premature state
ment of the governments policy.
The company, however, was alone
answerable for the peace of the
Mashonas and not the government.
With regard to the charge that the COM
pany had forced the war to retrieve it's
financial position. Mr. Buxton said it
was inevitable that the Matabeles would
eventually be absorbed, peacefully or
otherwise. Judgment upon the shoot
ing of Lobengula's ENJOYS ought to be
suspended until the result of the in
Quiry had been made known. The gov
ernmenJ agreed that the war ought not
degenerate into war OF determination,
or in the expulsion of the MatabeleS.
The government had not free hand in
the matter, as it was tied by the acts of
its predecessors, which could not be
ignored. The Matabeles and Mashonas
were included in the company's charter
without distinction. The government
also bore in mind that but for the com.
pany they would have lost this large
portion of Africa. The government
would deal with the question with due
regard to the rights and interests of the
natives, the company and the empire.
Mr.. Balfour said that the present gov
ernment could not disclaim responsible.
ity for the war. AS a member of the
late government which conferred the
powers upon the company. he was more
than ever convinced of the wisdom of
that policy.
Mr.. Gladstone said that the govern
ment did not desire to be disassociated
with what had occurred in Matabele-
land. He did not agree with the state
ment that the company had tried to
swindle the British public. The conf
pany had met with great difficulties
owing to the Matabeles' raids, which
were a source of serious danger to new
industries in Mashonaland.
Mr.. Labouchere was wrong in assum-
ing that King Lobengula was master IN
his own country. On the contrary the
younger men had forced the kings
hand and the government was forced to
demand that he maintain peace and
prevent further raids. The government
could not assume the responsibility Of
acceding to Mr.. Labonchere's request
for the peremptory cessation of hostili-
ties. He thought that the discussion
had been carried far enough.