The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-18

| very brief period after the recent pro-
rogation l am compelled by events
deeply affecting the interests of my
empire to recur to your advice and aid.
The state of affairs in South Africa
has made it expedient that my govern
! ment should be enabled to strengthen
I the military forces of this country by
calling out the reserve. For this pur-
/ pose the provisions of the law render
it necessary that parliament should be
| called together.
Except for the difficulties that have
| been caused by the action of the South
African republic, the condition of the
world continues to be peaceful
Gentlemen of the house of commons:
Measures will be laid before you for
the purpose of providing the expendi-
ture which has been or may be caused
by events in South Africa. Estimates
for the ensuing year i be submitted
to you in due course.
| Sir Alexander HOOD i the House
had never met in graVer circumstances,
not only for South Africa, but for the
whole empire. Dwelling upon the her
rors of war, he declared that war
| should not be under taken except from
| absolute necessity, but that in this case
all peaceful means had failed, and war
! had become necessary "to establish
| equal rights for the white races in
! South Africa" and ito remove the
grievances of the Outlanders."
The house Of lords reassembled at .
o'clock, the floors and galleries being
crowded. The Prince of Wales sat
amid the cross benches and there were
many Deeresses in the galleries.
The Marquis of CRANKY, in moving
the address of the peers in reply to the
que ems speech, said that the present
situation had been brought about Ly
tie deliberate action of the Transvaal
and Orange Free State governments
Difficulties had beer accommodating for
years. They were not the creation Of
the day. He Went on to dwell upon
Tie grievances of the Outlanders and
ernphatically declared that 1.-THE British
government had rescrted TO every pos
sibe means of effecting a peaceful is
sue"
Sir Henry Campbell IL Bannerman, lib
el al 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 mOrssecious or amid con-
diiions engaging TO a greater degree
/ TIE profound interest of The British peo-
pie
The demands made by the govern
ment of the South African republic
were such as to make it impossible for
the government of any salf-respecting
country ever to take them into con-
sideration. Cloud chaeriag.)
Actual hostilitics have commenced"
said Sir Henry, land an active aggres-
sion has been committed which it is
the plain duty of cur ministers of par
! lament and of the people to resist.
There will be no disposition On the part
Of this house to place any obstacle in
! the way of granting sucb supplies and
such powers to the crown as may be
| necessary.
Mr.. Balfour, who was received with
/ loud cheering, expressed satisfaction at
the declaration of Sir Henry Campbell~
Bannerman with much Of which, he
said. he was himself in hearty agree
lncnt.
The premier, the Marquis of Sails
bury. replying TO Lord Kimberiy's crit
icism of the negotiations, said THE
Boer government were pleased to dis
pense with any explanation on our part
respecting the causes or Justification of
the war. They have done what no
provocation on our part could have JUS
tilted. They have done what the
strongest nation has never in IT'S
strength done to any opponent it had
challenged They issued a defiance so
audacious that / could scarcely depict
it without using words unsuited for llis
assembly. and by so doing they liber
ated this country from the necessity
Of explaining to the people of England
why we are at war.
Mr.. Dillon, nationalist, moved an
amendment as follows I'VE represent to
her majesty that the state of war now
existing between Great Britain and the
South African republic was caused by
the assertion of claims which interfere
with the internal government of the re-
public, in direct violation of the terms
of the convention of 1884 and by the
massing of large bodies of British
troops on the frontier.
I'VE humbly submit that before
bloodshed takes place a proposal be
made in the spirit of the recent confer
ence at The Hague with view of find
ing in independent arbitration a settle
ment of the differences between the two
governments, and In order that an ig-
nominious war be thus averted between
the overwhelming forces of her majesty
and those of the two small nations,
numbering altogether less than 100000
souls"
Michael Davitt, member for South
Mayo, vigorously supported the amend
ment, declaring that outside of lingo
circles and stock icbbing rings the
whole British empire cried "Shame!"
The war woul bring neither honor nor
prestige to British arms.
After some sharp passages between
Col Edward j. Saunderson, who sits for
North Armagh. in the conservative in
terest, and the Irish members, a divis-
ion was taken on Mr. Dilon's amend
vote of S22 to 81.