Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-10

tCoDtinued from First Page.)
arrived at q very remarkable phenomenon
an agreement which is agreeably pleasan
and advantageous to both parties, but thi
IL interesting principally because 1t indi
Gates that at the present moment our rela
tion' with the German people are all W,
could desire.
Salisbury Not Prophet.
The great subject that interests all OF
us, undoubtedly is this war, adorned with
so many splendid feats of herolsm and
skill, but saddened by so many losses.
have great difficulty in dealing with the war
and If l attempted to deal with the future
should be undertaking a task in prophecy
from which the hardest would shrink. II
speak at all it may rather be to deprecate
Criticisms and statements which think un-
founded than to attempt to pass judgment
on what still depends on the future for It's
full determination,
Respecting the feeling expressed twice
or thrice that the want OF troops is due to
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 because there were no military
preparations. But neither of these
criticisms is at all relevant to the action
which has taken place. 1t has often been
said especially abroad, that we are a strong
nation attacking weak one, but so long
as the principal part of our forces is sepa-
rated by an interval of FIVE or six weeks
from the field of action it would be rather
true to say that we are weak nation fight
ing strong nation. Elements of distance
are vital essentials in this matter.
''1t would have been nothing to the pur-
pose to issue proclamations for reserves
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 is
sued we had withdrawn our demands and
there were no demands before the Trans
vaal government. 1t was because we had
taken measures to increase the amount of
our forces in South Africa But, If that had
been done a 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 it that moment the ultimatum would
have been issued and war would have be-
gun (cheers).
Evil Dates Further Back.
at is not, therefore, right to say there was
adequate preparation. The evil dates fur
ther back. 1t dates to those unfortunate
arrangements in 1881 and 1884, by which
we deliberately permitted a community OBJ
viously hostile, to enjoy unbounded, unlim-
tied right of accumulating munitions of war
against us. Year after year an ac-
emulation of munitions was made
which could only be directed against
US. Hampered by these arrange
ments, it was impossible that we should
avoid the interval of trial and danger neces-
sarily to intervene between the moment
when war was declared and the moment
when our forces could accept the contest
and appear upon the field. That interval has
nearly passed. Our troops are beginning to
arrive. Foreign nations have complimented
us upon the calmness with which we have
received the intelligence of occasional
checks.
Whatever strategy there might be, we
are we'll aware that the beginning of our
conflict with the Beers must be marked
by retirement of our troops from posi-
tions they are not strong enough to oc-
cupy. 1t is necessary We should wait for
sufficient reinforcements. / do not attempt
to forecast the future. l only say that my
faith in the British soldier is unbounded
and l am deeply gratifed to feel that he is
in the vigorous and sagacious hands of Cen
eral Butler.
Regarding the future. will only dep
recate some very strange assertions that
see occasionally in the continental press.
Only the other day it was asserted. not by
chance writer, but by a man who has
been a member of French ministry,
that this war had for its objects the graf
ification of the lusts of greedy lords. who
desired a partition among themselves OF
the gold and diamonds of the Transvaal.
Now l beg to assure this gentleman that
her majestys cabinet have not had farth-
ing from the Transvaal or from any other
gold fields.
Powers VIII Not Interfere.
II have seen it suggested-Gnd it seems
to me a wild suggestlon-that the other
powers will interfere with this country and
in some form or other dictate to those who
are concerned in it as to what it's upshot
had been. Don't let any man think 1t is
in that fashion the conflict will be con-
cluded. We shall have to carry 1t through
ourselves and the interference of anybody
else will have no effect on it, (Cheers.) In
the first place, because we would not ac-
cept that interference, and in the second
place, because we are convinced that there
is no such idea in the mind of any gov
ernment in the world.
within my recollection there have been
some five or six great wars, involving in
their closing territorial notifications but
except as provided for by treaties and ex-
cept in the case of treaties, in none OF these
wars has a third party ventured to inter-
fere between the combatants. In none OF
these wars has any nation claimed right
to determine what the issue of the contest
or it's terms should be. They have not
claimed that right because they cannot. 1t
is not in accordance with International law
that they should possess it, Therefore, such
dreams should be set aside.
Whenever we are victorious we shall con-
suit the vast interests committed to our
care. Vast duties lie upon us to perform
and taking counsel of the uniform traditions
of our colonial government and of the mod
Grafton and equal justice to all races OF
men, which 1t has been our uniform practice
to observe, | do not doubt we shall SO ar
hot fhn iG1Y nf