The record-union., 1899-11-10

the highest hope that out Of that war q
blessing in disguise will grow-and an
abundant growth--civilization and cult
ure in that ancient and most inter
esting monarchy.
This morning. you had intelligence
OF an agreement between ourselves ana
one OF the great Continental States
with which for many years we have
entertained relations of sympathy ana
friendship beyond others. Samoa is not
in itself a. very important matter, put
1t was important because it constituted
a subject Of difference between our
selves and a nation whose good Will we
prize very highly. I do not know en-
tirely the reason why the German peo-
pie and Government attach so mucn
Importance to Upolu, but they do, ana
we are very glad to find the means
whereby, without in the least diminish
ing the rights and advantages of Eng
land, we are able to crafty their views
and sentiments.
The agreement is somewhat compli-
Gated, but, roughly, it may be SAID
that the Germans had great interests
in this island, because they have IN
vested large amounts in its cultivation
and because they have constructed
great commerce, of which they are
proud. The islands, therefore, are OF
great value to them. To US, on the
other hand, islands are generally only
valuable when they furnish good mar
bors. Upolu furnishes a very bad mar
bor You will remember the great hur-
ricane when a British man-of-war es-
capped and when German and American
men of war were driven ashore. WE'LL
in these circumstances, we were glad 10
escape a Remuneration of the treaty
claims and rights Of Germany for an
other island, Tonga, where there is an
admirable harbor. We took the mar
Dor and Germany took the territory,
in which for many reasons the Ger
mans are interested.
81 believe we have arrived at re-
markable phenomenon-an agreement
which is agreeably pleasant and ad-
vantageous to both Powers, but this IS
interesting particularly because it in
dicates that at the present moment our
relations with the German people are
all we could DESIRE
1.-The great subject that interests all
of US undoubtedly is this war, adorned
with so many splendid feats of hero
ism and skill, but saddened by so many
losses 1 have great difficulty in deal
ing with the war, and, if I attempted
to deal with the future, l should be
undertaking a task in prophecy from
which the hardest would shrink If
speak at all, it may rather be to de-
precate criticisms and statements
which 1 think unfounded than to at
tempt to pass judgment on what still
depends upon to the future for its full
determination.
Respecting the feeling expressed
twice or thrice, that the want Of troops
is due to aswant 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
events which have been taking place.
1t has been often said, especially
abroad, that we are strong nation at
lacking 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
fighting strong nation. Elements of
distance are very essential in this
matter.
1T would have been nothing to the
purpose for issuing proclama tons for
the 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 at the moment
the ultimatum was issued we had with
drawn our demands, and there were no
demands before the Transvaal Govern
ment. It 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 of South Africa, that mo-
D6Gn
issued, and war would have begun.
1t is not, therefore, right to say that
there was not adequate military prepa-
ration. The evil dates farther back.
1t dates to those unfortunate arrange
ments in 1881 and 1884, by which we
deliberately permitted community OBJ
viously hostile to enjoy the unbound
ed, unlimited right of accommodating
munitions Of war against us. Year
after year an accumulation of NUM-
lions was made which could only be
directed against us. Hampered by
these arrangements, it was impossible
that we should avoid the interval of
trial and danger necessary to intervene
between the moment when war was de-
clared and the moment when our forces
could accept 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 occa-
sional 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 positions they are
not strong enough to occupy. It is
necessary that we should wait for suffi-
cient reinforcements. do not attempt
TO forecast the future. I only say that
my faith in the British soldier is UNI
bounded, and I am deeply gratified to
feel that he Is In the vigorous, saga
cious hands of General F1,lJer
Regarding the future I will only