Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-18
Datlp Z cnnebec 3opr1aI.
900 KILLED..
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submitted 10 you III que course.
My lords and gentlemen-There are
many subjects of domestic interest to
which your attention will be invited at
a later period when the ordinary sea-
son for the labors of Parliamentary
session has been reached. For the
presence l have invited your attend
ance in order to ask you to deal with
an exceptional emergency and l pray
that in performing the duties which
claim your attention you may have the
guidance and blessing of almighty
God"
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, Lib
cral leader in the House of Commons.
said Parliament had been summoned
to give its approval to the early steps
of war. Never had the House met in
circumstances more serious or amid
conditions engaging to a greater degree
the profound interest of the British
people. The demands made by the
government of the South African re-
public were such as to make it impos-
sible for the government of any self
respecting country ever to take them
into consideration.
Actual hostilities have commenced"
said Sir Henry, land an active aggrcs-
the plain duty of our ministers. of Par
lament and of the people to resist
CCheers). There will be no disposition
on the part of this House to place any
obstacle in the way of granting such
supplies and such powers to the crown
as may he necessary to secure the
rapid and effective prosecution of a
war commenced to vindicate our rights.
lCbaarcl Tho r1nnaior should no Wig
orously and promptly executed and
nothing necessary for that purpose
should be refused by the House of
Commons"
The leader of the opposition went on
to congratulate the government upon
the choice made of officers to whom the
main charge of the expedition" had
been given. Never, he believed, had So
capable and experienced Il staff been
dispatched from the shores of Eng
land
"Our natural position in South Afri-
ca" he declared, has placed upon us
the duty of seeing any impedment to
our own supremacy removed. on that |
we are all agreed. | have no intention |
of entering upon a minute or detailed |
criticism of the steps taken by the gov
eminent The time for that has not |
yet come, and it is proper to wait for
further explanations. But l may say it
does appear to me that the government
are engaged in Il game of bluff (Oppo-
sition cheers and ministerialst cries of
"No'). which is not a worthy one for
great country like this. The raising
of the suzerainty question was utterly
unnecessary and did more than any
thing else to remove all chances of sue
cess from the negotiations" (Opposi
ton cheers)
Mr.. Balfour, who was received with
loud cheering. expressed satisfaction a
the declaration of Sir Henry Campbell
Zimmerman, with much of which he
said he was himself in hearty agree
ment.
Mr.. Balfour complained that while Sir
Henry Campbell Bannerman insinuateI
that the war was due to errors of thu
government. he did not specify these er-
rors. The government would like to have
charges brought forward so they could
refute them.
He repealed the allegation that the gov
eminent had goaded the South African
republic into war by Haunting Great Bri
tains suzerainty in their faces. The
South African republic made claims t.
being an independent sovereign state, but
these were inconsistent with the conven-
tons Of 1851 and 1854. Mr.. Balfour said
he could not understand Sir Henry Camp
bell -Bannerman's declaration that the
government had played a game of bluff.
Bluff" said the government leader.
means a person acting as though he held
cards he does not possess; but this coun-
try holds the cards and means to play
them.
Sir Henry Campbenn Zimmerman dis
approved of sending troops to Sou n
Africa as an irritating menace 70 the
Beers. But where would we De now bu,
for those troops? Not to have sent troops
would have been to betray the country.
Mr. Balfour said further that he felt
entitled to say: "If war must come it has
seldom been entered into by Great Britain
upon an issue which was more clearly an
issue Of righteousness and liberty; ana
we have undoubted proof that our sell
governing colonies beyond the seas are
with us. heart and soul.
Mr. John Dillon, Nationalist, moved an
amendment to the address as Hollow"
I'VE humbly represent to Her MaJesi%
that the state of war now existing DC
tween Great Britain and the South Atrl-
can republic has been caused by the as
sertion of claims which interfere with th'
internal government in direct violation oL
the terms Of the convention of 1881, ahu
bv massing large bodies of British TROOPS
on the frontier Of the republic
1--WE humbly submit that before NOR
bloodshcd takes place proposal De III" -
in the spirit of the recent conference az
The Hague with a view Of hnding II II
dependent arbitration a settlement OF t"2
differences between the two governments
ana in order that an ignominious war p
thus avoided between the overwheimihs
forces of Her Maicsty's empire ana mos
of two small nations, numbering "''o
gc,her less than 100000 souls.
Mr. Dillon claimed that his amehuil'i'
would appcal to an overwhelming haJ''
itv of the civilized world outside OF Ems
land. He was proud, he said, that iiei',
was against this unjust ana co"di"is
war" 1t was not d war, he coh'4i"
for the freedom of the Outlanders' p".
war against the yoke of Cecil RhoueS
ing n,,t upon these poor people MI LIZ