The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-10

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Germans are interested.
= believe We have arrived at very
MAJ aikable phenOmenon-an agreement which
is asreeably pleasant and advantageous TO
both powers-but this is interesting particu-
ent moment our relations with the German
people are all we could desire.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.
The great subject that interests all of us
undoubtedly, is the South African war.
adorned with So many splendid feats of
heroism and skill. but saddened by so many
losses. / have great difficulty In dealing
with the war, and. IL i attempted to deal
with the future, j should be undertaking a
task In prophecy from which the hardest
would shrink. If l speak at all it may
rather be 10 deprecate criticisms and state
nents, which L think unfounded than to at
tempt TO pass judgment on what still de-
pends upon tie future for its full determine
ton.
Respecting the feeling expressed twice or
thrice, that the want Of troops is due 10 a
want Of action on the part of the home gov
ernment. / would point out that there have
been two or three voices. Two or three
months ago We were told by the most au-
thoritative voice outside the government
that there was no occasion for milit lry
preparations. Since then we have been
| blamed because there was no military prep
aration. But neither of these criticisms is
at all relevant TO the events which have
been taking place. 1t has been often said,
especially abroad, that we are q strong ma
| ton attacking a weak one, but, so long as
| the principal part of our forces is separated
| by an interval of five or six weeks from the
| field of action, it would rather be true TO
| say that we are weak nation lighting u
strong nation Elements of distance are
vital and essential in this matter
IL would have been nothing to the pur-
| pose to issue proclamations for reserves
some weeks earlier. For what was the
cause or the war, and what was the cause
| Tor the uitimatum? 1t was not because of
any demand we had made. 1t so happens
| tnat At the moment the ultimatum was IS
sued We had withdrawn our demands and
there were no demands before the Trans
| Vaai government 1t was because we had
| taken measures to increase the amount of
our forces in South Africa. But, if that had
been done few months sooner exactly the
same result would have taken place. The
! moment you had shown signs of raising
your force TO an equality with the force op-
posed TO 1t, that moment the ultimatum
would have been issued and war would have
been begun. [Cheers.] 1t is not, therefore.
right to say that there was not an adequate
military preparation.
BRITAIN'S FIRST MISTAKE.
| The evil dates farther back. 1t dates
to those unfortunate arrangements In 1881
and 1884 by which we deliberately permitted
a community previously hostile to en-
JOY the unbounded, unlimited right Of
4 acCumla ting ~
Year after year an accumulation of muni-
| tons was made which could only be d.
rected against US. Hampered by these ar
rangements, 1t was impossible that We
| should avoid the interval OF trial and dam
ger necessarily to intervene between the
moment when war was declared and the
moment when our forces could accept con-
test and appear upon the field. That in
terval has nearly passed. Our troops are
beginning to arrive. Foreign nations have
complimented US on the calmness with
| which We have received the intelligence of
| occasional checks.
Whatever strategy there might be. we
are well aware that the beginning of our
conflict with the Beers must be marked
by retirement of our troops from posi-
tlons they are not strong enough to occu-
py. 1t Is necessary that we should wait for
1 ACAliOiCcutHlS 90 not ATTEMPT
to forecast the future / only say that nv
faith in the British soldier is unbounded.
and am deeply gratified TO feel that he is
In the vigorous and sagacious hands of
| General Butler.
Regarding the future / will ONLY denre
cate some very strange assertions that
see occasionally In the continental press
only the other day saw il asserted not
| Dy a chance writer, but by d man who has
Deen member Of a French government.
that this war had for its object the gratir-
cation or the lusts of greedy lords VINO de-
sired partition among themselves of the
gold and diamonds of the Transvaal Now.
beg 10 assure this gentleman that her
MaJesty's Cabinet has not had a farthing
nom the Transvaal or from any otner god
i neids. There IS the Yukon, about which
| there Is no contest If there had been any
chance of our gaining advantages these
Yukon gold neids snould have yielded some
thing' but appeal 10 my friend Lord
Hamilton TO know II the CABINET ever had a
fartning from them. lLaugnterl
go further. kng.and as a whole would
| nave mad no advantage from Inc possession
or gold mines except as her government
conferred. the blessings OF good aamin,srra-
tlon on those engaged in the Industry. An
D
AL commerce mas proouced is TO the ao-
yantage OF hngiand, and all industries ana
commerce nourlsh better unaer her GOOD
government imam under any o.ner regime in
Inc word. but that is the limit OF our
interest.
WHAT BRITAIN DESIRES.
What we desire Is equal rights for ALI
men OF all races ana security Tor our fei
iow-supJecIs ana our empire 1ne nour for
dsAlnS Uy wnaL means Inese results can me-
oDtalled Is not yet come, out tnese are the
oDJecIs ana the onIy oDJects We Seek We
DO not ailow any oIner consideration 10
cross our pain. have seen IL suggested
ana II seems 10 me a Wild suggestivn-lnal
the other powers will interfere with TINS
country ana III some form or otner dlcJate
TO those VINO are concerned in IL as 10 wnat
Its upsnoJ Will be. Don'I let any man tnlnk
IL IS IN that fashion the cOnIIIcL viii ne
concluded. We snail have 10 carry IL
through ourselves, and the interference OF
anyDooy eIse viii have 40 enecJ upon IL.
lCnecrs.I In the hrsI pace, because We
would not accept that interference, and in
the second place because We are convinced
tnat Inere Is no sucn idea in the mind OF
any government in the world.
Within my recoAecuon there have been
some nye or six great wars, involving in
their close great territorial modInea. .Ions.
but, except IS provioed Tor by treaties and
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