The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-12
SPEECHES by PUBLIC MEN.
MIR, BaIfour and others Discuss the
Transyaal Rupture.

LONDON Oct. IA flood OF oratory on
the Transvaal situation burst out tonight
Mr.. A. j. Balfour, first lord OF the treasury,
Henry Herbert Asquith, former home secre-
tary, and Others spoke in various parts Of
the country. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach.
chancellor of the exchequer, who was to
have delivered an address on the subject.
Is suffering from an attack of bronchitis
and was unable to speak. Mr. Balfour ad-
dressing the Unionists Of Haddington, said:
THE crisis in South Africa has reached
the stage where diplomacy is put aside,
arms. Peace and that good will among men,
which il Is our first business to cultivate I'm
all of Great Britain's vast possessions. has
by the rash policy OF the Boer. tGovern-
ment cheers. A great change has taken
place in the past three months in the opin-
ion of this country regarding our South
African policy. There was not then the
clear conviction which now exists respect
ing the true merits of the case which is
force, but the more the public has known
OF what the government has done and what
they aimed at, the more they have come
If they have erred at all, have erred on the
side of patience. Those who supported
can look back on the long, anxious months
with the conscientious conviction that We
earnestly desired peace, though war was
imminent. and that though at the moment
1 am speaking, war may actually have be-
gun. that war is none of our seeking. none
of our DESIRE but is forced upon US by those
who are not men fighting for the freedom
OF their country, but an oligarchy who fear
that the hour of their dopination is at an
end. lCheerS1
Now that the prospects of peace are
finally destroyed now that the war with all
its consequences, all its loss of life. all its de-
struction of property, all its sufferings, is
on US. We can say we never asked anything
but justice, never desired anything but free
lnnQQn "
the Transvaal Republic toward men of our
race and speech which we freely give to men
OF the Dutch race and speech In the neigh
while to imperil their future in order to re-
fuse these rights, at all events the blame
rests on them and not on us. and we can
feel that. whatever We may have to endure
before the war Is brought to final, con-
elusive and successful issue the sacrifices
fees in the interests of the rights of men
and of civilization" prolonged cheers.]
Mr. Balfour concluded his speech with an
expression Of thanks to the audience for
their approval of the governments policy.
Mr.. Asquith. speaking at Dundee, credited
the government with sincere and honest
desire TO avoid war. 1t seemed incredible,
he said, that the other side should strike
the first blow in a conflict which could
have but one issue. The handling of the
problem by the Beers was such as no civil
lied country could permit and the issue
raised by the Transvaars ill-starred dis
patch was one that Great Britain could not
shirk, but was bound to take up. The vast
majority of the British people, Mr.. Asquith
declared, contemplated the war with re-
luctance and aversion and saw in it little
or no prospect of advantage or of military
glory. 1t was not with light heart that
they took up the challenge, but now that It
was forced upon them. they should see It
through.
Right Hon. John Broderick. under secre-
tary Of state for foreign affairs, announced
in speech at Guildford, that the govern
ment had made the only possible reply to
the Transvaal, namely that I'VE are not
prepared to discuss such terms"
Sir Charles Dixie. Radical member of Par
lament for the Forest OF Dean division of
Worcestershire, in the course Of an inter-
view this evening said it was imperative
that England should give the Beers mani
festation of her strength.