New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-11
LORD SALISBURY'S SPEECH.

The British Prime Minister speaks always to
some purpose and with the courage Of his con-
victions. The other day he declared in Parlia-
ment his recognition Of the necessity OF taking
the people into the confidence of their Govern
ment On Thursday night he put that theory
into practice-not. indeed by revealing any mo-
mentous State secrets. for there were none per-
tincnt to the occasion to he revealed. but by
discussing the gravest affairs OF State In public
with frankncss and, we may add. directness
and lucidity for which shall scarcely find
parallel in the utterances Of any other Euro
pcan Minister Of equal rank. II we may not call
Lord Salisbury "thc one voice in Europe" we
may account him voice second to none in au-
thorty and perhaps rivnlled by none in clarity
and certainty of tone. His speeches nave ana
that OF Thursday night conspicuously had. the
supreme quality Of strenuous appeal to common
sense Witness, for example, his explanation OF
the apparent and much censured delay OF the
Government in getting troops to South Africa.
1t would have been impossible, he reminded his
hearers to get them there any longer in advance
Of the war. because II they had been sent there
or If preparations had been made for sending
them any earlier the Transvaal would have de-
clared and begun the war just so much the
earlier. Every observant man knows that to be
true and Just because the Transvaars ultima
tum and declaration of war were made not in
answer to any demand OF the British Govern
ment but solely because Great Britain was
sending and preparing to send more troops to
her Cape Colony. In like manner his decara-
ton that Great Britain is going TO carry the war
through herself-frst, because she Will brook no
intervention and. second, because no other Gov
eminent seriously thinks Of intervening-must
have the force Of reason and justice to every
judicious mind.
The topics OF chief interest in Lord Sails
bury's speech, however ut least TO Americans,
were those Of Samoa and Of South Africa after
the war Concerning the former he made plain
the feature OF the case which had already been
anticipated in these columns, namely that the
bargain between Great Britain and Germany is
one which is "agreeably pleasant and advanta-
geous to both Powers" That. as he well says
is a very remarkable phenomenon, though not
altogether unique. II Is, moreover-nnd upon
this point he lays especial stress-an Indication
that the relations between the two Powers are
all that could be desired When we connect
with this the cordial words concerning the
United States with which he prefaced his re-
marks upon Samoa we have n repetition and
confirmation, by the highest authority In the
world upon the subject, OF the facts first pro
claimed by our London correspondent, namely,
that the Impeachment between Great Britain
and the United States did not prevent nor defer
but actually facilitated and FASTENED that be-
tween Great Britain and Germany; that the mp
proachment between Great Britain and Ger
many has not neuralized nor impaired that be-
tween Great Britain and the United States that
as n result Of the approachment between Great
Britain and the United States the German Gov
eminent also has sought and established more
cordial and sympathetic relations with the
United States. and that. in brief all three
Powers are now on better terms all around than
ever before Such an assurance as this last Is,
we need scarcely observe. significant not only Of
great good TO the three nations Immediately con-
cerned but equally of permanence TO the peace
and welfare OF the world.
On the subject Of the disposition Of South
Africa after the war Lord Salisbury maintained
all appropriate reserve. That obviously Is not
yet matter for official announcement. Your
hare Is to be caught before he Is cooked. no
matter how sure you may be OF catching him.
or course, there is much popular speculation
upon it-more perhaps, than OF discussion OF
the progress Of the war itself. Here, for ex-
ample, are two leading articles upon 1t In the
current "Fortnighty Review" one In ''The Nine
teenth Century" and one in THE National Re
view" not TO mention others In other publica
tons All that is proper enough. At any rate
it IL inevitable But II was not for the Prime
Minister thus TO talk, nor. we imagine. did any
reasonable man desire or expect him thus TO do.
What he did say upon the subject was. how
ever. unmisiakable in purport. The settlement |
OF South Africa's future will rest with Great |
Britain, and with her alone. The problem will |
be taken In hand In manner bentting Its grav- |
ity. and-n the genius Of the Anslo-Baxon raco |