The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-12
BREAKS LONG SILENCE
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN SPEAKS ON
THE ANGLO-BOER WAR.
He Again Says Responsibility for Hos
tilitfes Does Not Rest on Him
Future of the Transvaal.

BIRMINGHAM, England. May n.-Jo-
seph Chamberlain, secretary of state for
the colonies, presided this evening at the
annual meeting of the grand committee of
the Liberal Unionists of Birmingham, the
occasion being his first appearance here
since the outbreak of the war. The meet
ing was held in the Birmingham town hall,
the approaches to which were thronged.
The immense audience greeted Mr.. Cham
berlain, who was accompanied by his sons.
Resolutions of sympathy with Mr.. and
Mrs. Chamberlain in their recent bereave-
ment. the death of VIM. c. Endicott. weia
adopted, for which Mr.. Chamberlain ex-
pressed his thanks.
Proceeding then to discuss public affairs.
Mr.. Chamberlain observed: 1.-The peace-at-
any-price party does no harm at home, but
it does much. abroad. It's members must
tacks upon various statesmen by persons
who are always willing to think i'll of Eng
land. Our minds, however. are not inter-
ested just now in domestic matters. We
are in the midst of great war. our ulti-
mate success in which I never for a mo-
ment doubted, and a war which, under
Lord Robertss skillful guidance, seems al
most within measurable distance of a salts
factory conclusion. When, on a previous
occasion, when I said the sands were run
ming out, 1T was only plain language and
was meant to be plain language 1t is an
insult to my colleagues to say that I am
responsible for the war or to say that II is
a war of capitalists.
ssVVo for1nd that the corotrx, A.
of our possessions i'm Africa-a country
which owed its independence to our mag
naniniity, country under the suzerainty
of the Queen-not an island in the Atlantic
ocean, but country surrounded on all
sides by British colonies--had set I'D as it's
ideal the reduction of the British race,
which forms a majority of its population,
to the position of an inferior people. I
would not be ashamed to take the whole
responsibility for the war, but IL there
were any special responsibility 1t rests
with those who misled Mr.. Kruger and who
encouraged him to resist demands whose
moderation had been acknowledged II
England has erred, she has erred in being
too lenient"
Turning to the question of the condi-
lions of South African settlement and the
fate of the republics. Mr.. Chamberlain
said: ut is premature to discuss details.
but I am quite ready to take the opinion
of the country, and, above all, the opin-
ions of those self-governing colonies which
have come so magnificently TO our assist
ance. While the government does not wish
to be vindictive. they are determined that
never again shall the republics be nur-
sery of conspiracy, and they will see that
Justice is done to those who are determined
to be loyal. The government is not pre-
pared to recognize the independence of the
Boer republics (cheers1, and we are deter
mined that the republics shall be finally in
corporated under the British flag. For an
interval they must be a crown colony. such
as India is, but we hope they will eventual
ly become a great self-governing colony
like Canada and Australia.