The Portland daily press., 1899-11-10
many reasons the Germans are interest

which Is a1reeably pleesfnt anu aaseh-
tasrous TO the powers, but this Is inter-
ssting particularly becaus, IL indicates
that, at the present moment, our rcis-
zion with the German people are all we
could desire.
s.Ths great sabjsct that interosts all
Of MS, undoubtedly, 10 this war, adorned
with 80 many splendid feats OF heroism
and skill, but saddened by 20 many
losses have great difficulty In deal
ing with the war; and II attempted to
deal with the future, I had reen under
taking task In prophecy from which
the hsrdiess would shrink. II speak
at all. 1t may rather be to deprecats criti-
oism and statements which / think un-
founded than to attempt to pass judg-
ment on what still depends upon the fu-
ture for Its full determination.
"Respecting the feelings expressed
twice or thrice that the want OF troops
Is due to u want Of action on the part
of the home government. would point
out that there have been two or three
voices. Two or three months ago. we were
told BY the most authoritative voice
outside the government that there was
no occasion for military preparations.
Since then we have been blamed be-
cause there were no military prspara-
tions. But psithsr of these criticisms Is
at all relevant to the events which have
been taking place. 1t had bsen often
said, especially abroad, that we are
strong nation attacking . weak one;
but, SO long as the principal part Of our
force ia separatsdsby an interval OF five
or six weeks from the field Of action, 1t
would rather be true to say that We are
a weak nation fighting a strong one.
Elements Of distance are vital and essen
tial in this matter
at would have been nothing to the
purpose to issue proclan,ations for re-
serves some weeks earlier. For, what
was the cause Of the war, and what was
the cause OF the ultimatum? 1t was not
because of any demand we had made
1t SO happens that, at the moment the
ultimatum was Issued, we had Withdrawn
our demands, and there were no demands
before the IransvaaI government. 1t was
because we had taken measures to In
crease the amount Of our forces In South
Africa. But, II that had been done
few months sooner, exactly the same -
suit would have taken place. The m O.
ment you had shown signs OF raising
your force to an equality with the force
opposed to 1t. that moment the ultima
tum would have been issued and wal
would have begun. (Cheers.)
alt is not therefore right TO say that
there was not adequate military prepare
ito. The evil goes farther back. 1t dates
to these unfortunate arrans ements II
1881 and 1884 by which we deliberately
permitted community obviously hostile
to enjoy the unbounded, unlimited right
of accommodating munitions OF wa
against us. Year after year an accumu-
lation of munitions was made which
could only be directed against us. Ham
pered by these arrangements It was Inn
possible we should avoid the interval of
trial and Danger necessary to intervene
between tine moment when war was de-
clared and the moment when our forces
could accept contest and appear upon
the field.
"That interval has nearly passsd. Our
troops are beginning to arrive. Foreign
nations have oopplimented as upon the
oaimness with which We have received
she intelligence Of occasional checks
Whatever strategy there might be. We are
we'll aware that the beginning Of our
conflict with the B0srs must be marked
by retirement Of our troops from POSI-
tions they are not strong enough to oocu-
py. 1t Is necessary that they should wait
for Sufficient endorsements. do not at
tempt to forecast the future. only say
that my faith in the British soldier Is
unbounded and 1 am deeply gratified to
fesl that he is In the vigorous and saga
cious hands of Gen. Butler.
"Regarding the future, will only de-
precate some very strong assertions that
I see occasionally in the continental
preea Only tho other day / saw 1t as
serted, not by a chance writer. but q man
who has bean member of French gov
ermsnt that this war had for It's objects
the qualification of ths lust Of greedy
lords. who desired a partition among
themselves of the gold and diamonds of
the Transvaal.
snow I beg to as sure this gentleman
that Her Majesty's cabinet have not had
q Iarthlng from the IranSvaai or from
any other gold fields. There is Yukon,
about which there Is no contest. II there
had bsen any chance OF our gaming ad-
vantages these Yukon gold fields should
have Yielded something, but appeal to
my friend Lord Hamilton. to know IL the
cabinet ever had a farthing from tn en-
(LAughter)
II 20 further. England as a whole
would have had no advantage from the
possession Of gold mines except as her
government conferred the blessings of
good administration upon these engaged
In the industry. All successful industry
breeds commerce and all commerce pro-
duced Is to the advantage Of Eng land
and all industries and commerce flourish
hettar undar mod rnxarn han