The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1896-07-07
Mr.. cbamberlain's Answer to Kruger.
SIGNIFICANT SPEECH.

D. hlIICdn uluDeT AT JDe hOtel NE.
tropole. He was supported on his
immediate right by Lord Loeb, and
on the left by Sir d. Curtie, NJ. p.
The right Hon. gentleman proposed
the toast OF the evening, prosper
ity to S. Africa" aud said he envied
his predecessors who had submitted
hat toast and who were able to
speak under happier circumstance 8
and with less restraint and reserve
de bad hoped that the cloud might
have rolled away ere this, but, nm
fortunately, that was not the case
The causes Of discomfort and unrest
rAmained, and very little progress
b I'd been made towards reconcile
ion between the Dutch aud Nhe
E glish. He could not pretend 10
regard the information he had re-
c'ived in reference 10 the Pretoria
prisoners as entirely satisfactory
(Cheers). He feared that it might
not tend to the speedy realisation
OF our objects He regretted it, and
he confessed that he was the more
disappointed because he himself
had always believed, and had ex-
pressed his belief, in the nagnauim
ity OF President Kruger. CLEAR,
hear) He had believed that with
him "the quality OF mercy was not
strained"-(hear, hear that he
would be the last person to be ami
mated with anything like a vindic-
tive feeling towards the men who,
WHATEVER MISTAKES THEY MIGHT HAVE
COMMITTED,
and they all thought they had com
mitted grevious errors-(hear, hear)
were, nevertheless, the men who
had created by their energy and
their enterprise the prosperity OF
the Stale over which the President
presided. cloud cheers) They would
understand, however, that he did
not think that was the time or oc-
casion for public discussion OF the
present situation. CLEAR, hear J
There was the less necessity for it
because, at all events, the policy OF
the Government had been clearly
aud definitely expressed, and would
not be changed. (Prol lnged cheers }
They intended strictly to fulfill heir
legal obligations, but they intended
also strictly to maintain their legal
rights. (Renewed cheers) They did
not at all abandon the hope that
they might be able to do something
to bring together the two races that
had been temporarily separated by
recent events, and to secure com
plete aud a satisfactory understand.
ing. (Hear, hear.) But he could not
conceal from himself that the pros.
perity OF S. Africa depended to-day
less upon its marvellous natural re-
sources, less upon its agricultural
and mining industries, than it did
upon the Craftsmanship, the wis
dom, and the moderation of the men
who were mainly responsible for its
political history. (Cheers) Political
disturbances were not the ONLY mis-
fortune they had had to regret re-
Gently in S. Africa. They had the
outbreak OF rinderpest, and they had
had he rising in Rhodesia AS re-
gardsd the first, the Government
we're doing what they could to pre-.
vent its worst results; and
AS TO THE RISING IN MATABELELAND,
he thought they might congratulate
themselves that it had been success
fully suppressed. (Cheers) Having
referred to the great progress which
had been made in the import aud
export trade of S. Africa during the
past 10 years he went on to say that
he had received copy OF an address
from people of different races who
had adopted S. Africa as their home
aud which to a marked extent, was
disturbed by recent lamentable
events. They humbly hoped that