Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-07

III reply to the speech from the throne.
by 352 against the amendment to 139
in its favor.
In the House of Commons. today.
rcpiny u a question Of Mr.. John Dll
lin. Nationalist. as t. whether the gov
crnment intended to treat food stuffs
90 contraband curing the present war.
and If 50. under what restrictions and
limitations. Mr.. y. J. Bllfour the gov
eminent leader. said that food Stufis
~ such. han never been considered
cIntrabanl by Great britain. but. he
added fl4 4 stums intended to supply
an army IN IN" fields were by the uni
Nrrsal con -ert of international lawyers
regarded as contraband and priZe
count would decide the facts connect
~ WIN the shipments.
Asked IL thr government intended tD
direct cruisers Ia seize an cargors for
I.ourrnzo Marques until their charac-
t,I was determined by q prize court,
Nj E1lfour declined t. MAKE any
sat m-nt in this connection.
George Wymdham, Parliam ntary
secretary fur the war office replying
TN question, said there waf reason
,l y liey. that many Of the guns from
The forts al Pretoria had been sent t.
tn" front and that some Of them had
rang" of 10000 yards. Tho British
Siege train sent OUT in December, he
added. had guns IF equal range.
TIM president VI THU board of agri
culture MI. Walker Long, confirming
me outbreak Of tile foot ana mouth
disease said the situation was a very
grave on". but he hoped t. pr, vent thu
disastrous results which must cnsur
if it became epidemic.
The debate un the amendment to the
address lib reply to THU speech from
the throne WaS then resumed hy Mr..
II. l.. Asquith. Liberal. ,Home s"cro-
tary in the RIOS berry ministry. who,
from the tenor of his remarks. might
have held q brief for the government.
He maintained til" war was neither
intended nor desired by tho govern
menr which. naturally explained the
country's unprrpa rcdn-a-. Mr. As
quith added that the war could have
been avoided ny President Kruger ac-
cepting the proposals made in Septem-
her. y hich. according 10 the speaker,
We're perfectly compatible with the
maintenance of the independence" "
the Transvaal
If he thought the British negotia
tons We're 4 mere cloak to attack the
Independence of or annex the Trans
vaal. then. in spite Of the invasion Of
tho British territory and the loss of
Briti=h lives he could not have recon
cilcd his conscience with voting a pen
ny for the prosecution Of the war. |
But that was not the opinion Of the
House of Commons. nor of the great |
majority of the country. That was
why they We're united in Parliament |
and united people.
Doubtless there had been q demon |
etratabIe lack If foresight and insight. |
Mr.. Chamberlain. no doubt, would Civ |
much for a change of rc-edtinC his |
dispatches. But there was no ground. |
in anything which had happened or III |
anything which they could contemplate |
At present for the "coakings Of pessi- |
miSm or fits Of panic.
John Burns. Radical. congratulated |
the opposition upon having the courage
to do its duty "uninlluenced by news |
papers owned by blackguards and edit |
ed by ruffians who clamor for war.
He characterized it as absurd To say |
that the debate would BE- an encourage |
menJ ana an incentive to the Beers.
The Beers do not need an incen- |
tive" exclaimed Mr.. Burns. This was |
supplied them years ago by the blum |
dering policy of the colonial secretary |
whose speech might ~ fairly summar- |
izrd AZ follows: There is NJ argument |
for war. Therefore W. wave the Union |
Jack. \ few mistakes have been com |
mit,ed. Therefore double your army |
in South Africa And then a perora-
ton in the language Of the pothouse
ana the spirit Of the prize ring
Mr.. Observation-Disclosures order"
MI. Burns-"If YOU tak- exception
to 'pothouse.' Mr. Speaker. | Withdraw
it and substitute stock exchange.
Sir Henry Campbcll-B arnerman the
Liberal leader, justified the oppor;une-
ness Of the amendment. because il was
the duty Of the opposition to record its
Judgment. He said the government,
could hardly pose as conquercrs upon
whose broWs laurel wreathes should
be placed. for their diplomacy had
failed and their military operations had
been unsuccessful. These facts Sir
Henry declared. invited criticism. AT
tie same time he would dcprecate eX-
aggcration ana would deny the eXis-
tcnce of national humiliation and dis
comfiture.
He ais, denied that the opposition was
actuatcI by a desire To Chamber int"
power Or to seek party advantage. The
composed ann sensible TONE N tta
arccch NJ the colonial secretary" ne haa
been glad t. hear. II the Eovernmtnl
were aware of the disparity between tho
defensive forces of tho S1uth AlIl,h
colonies and the military strength @! uns
r RS when the negotiations Were tIItti'u
urpu. no condemnation, in his JudSIilch''
could To- Too severe. I. tt,.-, |
statement that tn" secret NH XIV
was too small ana pointed cut mat We
whole sum had not been EXPENDED. ne
thought the government should nave as
ayowed the Jameson raid ana given
Guarantees for the future. as GREAT Brit
7in wonId then have been in position to
dnrnand mat the Beers cease drming.
Sir Henry demanded 70 know upon
urhtt Evidence the existence Of Dutch
r =, was asserted. declaring that
,,niasr M charge were well founded. it
80 a most wanton insult to Her Males
10 Ioval Dutch subjects at the Cape.
CONTINUED on page 81