Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-20

DEEMS THE WAR NECESSARY
TO NATHAN THE PARAMOUNT
CY OF GREAT BRITAIN IN
! SOUTH AFRICA.
LONDON, October 19.-F1oor and
galleries were densely crowded to-day
in the House of Commons in anticipa-
ton of a speech by the Secretary Of
| State for the Colonies. Mr.. Joseph
| Chamberlain, on the governments pol
icy in South Africa.
Henry Seton-Karr, Conservative, in
accordance with notice given
yesterday, asked the first lord
of the treasury whether the
attentfsn of the government had
been directed to certain speeches and
letters by and emanating from the
members for Kilkenny and East Glare,
Messrs. Patrick O'Brien and William
Redmond, Parnellite5, advocating the
cause of the Beers, attempting to Sc
duce British soldiers and melting them
/ actively to assist the enemies of the
Queen, and what action, if any, the
government proposed to take in the
| matter.
Mr.. Redmond rose quickly and said
| that before the first lord of the treas
ury replied he desired to ask him
| whether it were not a fact that he (Mr.
Redmond) in suggesting a message Of
| sympathy to President Kruger had only
followed the precedent set by her mai
esty's grandson, the German Emperor.
cloud laughter.)
Mr.. Balfour replied as follows:
II was not aware that the honorable
member for East Clare framed himself
on such an august model Naughter).
1 may point out, among the differences
between himself and the Emperor of
| Germany that his imperial majesty is
| not a Britisher nor a member Of this
house."
Mr.. Chamberlain began with a severe
| criticism Of the action of the opposition
at the previous meeting of Parliament.
| Their statements, he said, were calcu-
lated to encourage President Kruger's
resistance and to embarrass the govern
ment in most difficult and most criti-
cal functions"
Passing to the general question Of
the governments South African policy,
Mr.. Chamberlain said that in the light
Of recent events he had come to the
conclusion that war had always been
inevitable, although it was only of late
that he had himself most reluctantly
reached this view. He had hoped for
peace and striven to maintain it and
up to a recent date he had believed
that peace was possible. He had al
ways been determined to secure justice
for the Britishers in South Africa and
to maintain the paramountcy of Great
Britain; but with these things assured,
he desired peace. Whenever there had
been a doubt as to President Kruger's
motives, the government had always
given him the benefit of the doubt.
Turning to the principles involved in
the war, the colonial secretary went on
to say:
eff we maintain our existence as a
great power in South Africa. we are
bound to show that we are willing and
able to protect British subjects wher-
ever they have suffered injustice and
oppression. Great Britain must remain
the paramount power in South Africa.
I do not mean paramount in the Ger
man and Portuguese possessions, but in
the two republics and the British col
onies.
Mr.. Chamberlain then proceeded to
discuss the question of racial animos-
ity, denying that this feeling, which, he
said, was based in South Africa on
contempt, would be increased by hos
tilities.
81 say again that the racial animosity
which has been the curse of South At
RIGA is based on contempt. Hate is bad
enough, but I would rather have a
mans hate than his contempt. There
will never be an end of racial animos-
ity, nor will there ever be peace in
South Africa until both races have
| learned to respect each other"
"Our countrymen have seen a magni-
fcent demonstration not only of 10y
atty, but of sympathy with the objects
of the government on the part of the
colonies. 1 have been as anxious for
| peace as any man, but the government
holds that there are considerations
which are even more important than
peace, and one Of these is the mainten-
ance of equality between the white
races in South Africa. In their en-
deavor to maintain peace the govern
ment has shown endless patience. It
was President Kruger who settled the
issue. He appealed to- the God OF bat
ties. If l may do so with reverence. |
say we accept that appeal, believing our
| ouorrol inst