The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-31

munities. / feel confident that the es,
adjustment of the great federation OF
Australia will prove advantageous, mol
only to the colonies Immediately concern
ed. but also to the empire at large.
'.Ihe brilliant courage and soldler-hke
qualities of the colonial forces engaged
in south Africa have already earned
high admiration. and patriotic offers OF
assistance which it was not possible to
accent. have come from many other col
onies with populations of various races.
I have received from the ruling chiefs or
native States of India numerous offers
70 place their troops and the resources
Of their states at my dlsposal lor sers Ict
in South Africa. These proofs of their
loyalty to myself and their devotion 10
the cause of my empire have afforded me
much qualification.
"GentIemen of the House Of Commons:
'"The estimates for the public service
of the year will be laid before you. The
provision for military expenditure must
be largely increased on account OF the
charge for military operations III south
Africa. The experience OF great war
must necessarily afford lessons OF great
est Importance to the military admins
trations of the country. You Will not,
ann convinced shrink from any outlay
that may be required to place our de
fensive preparations on level win the
responsibilities which the possession OF
so great an empire has laid upon us. At
a time when several other nations are
perfecting their naval preparations at the
cost of increasing efforts and sacrihces,
the solicitude with which you have pro-
yided for the efficiency of our navy ana
our coast defences will assureedly not
be relaxed.
The rest of the speech, recognizing that
the time is not proptious for domestic
reforms involving large expenditures,
recommends amendments to the agrlcu-
tural, educational company, railway ana
accident laws"
DUKE OF SONIERSET'S REPLY.
The Duke of Somerset moved the ad-
dress in reply. He said he looked for
ward confidently to a successful ter
mination of the war. He urged the ne
cessity for reform in the military adj
ministration and said that hitherto. the
army seemed to have existed for The
benefit of the War Office and that IL The
future the War Office must eXisr for
the benefit of the army.
The Duke of Somerset then eulogiZed
the loyalty of the colonies, especially
Canada, and strongly depreca-ed the adj
verse criticism of General Butler. his
remarks in this connection being cheercd.
He said he had every confidence III Can
eral Butler and in Lord Roberts.
The Liberal leader in the House of
Lords the Earl of Kimberley followed.
His lordship congratulated Lord Sails
bury on the conclusion of the agreement
with Germany but strongly disapproved
of the tone of Mr.. Chamberlain 5
speeches.
He said:
I'VE might meet period of disaster,
and although relations with the other
powers are friendly, it would be We'll 10
consider the possibilities of the future
and for the Government to be prepared
for all eventuaEties and be ready with
the means to surlnount them. The GOV
eminent does not seem to have been
aware Of the scale Of preparations the
South African republics
Lord Salisbury. in reply to the Earl of
Kimberley. asserted that there was moth
ing in the stipulations of the conventions
to limit and hinder the importation Of
arms and ammunition into the Transvaal
through Lorenzo Marques.
Continuing the Premier said:
why were we to know about the i'm
portation of arms? / believe guns were
introduced into the Transyaal in boilers
and munitions of war in piano eases.
We had small secret service fund. If
you want much Information sou must
give much money. The Transyaal, !
have heard on high diplomatic authority,
spent for this purpose 100000 pounds
sterling (S4000,000) in a single year.
Later the Premier admitted that he
had not thought of looking into past
history or examining the amount of
blame to be attached to this or that
Minister.
1T is" he said, quite the right way
Of dealing with the present crisis. We
must join together and exercise all our
powers in extIicating ourselves from
the situation
ATTACK ON SALISBURY.
Lord Rosebery who followed Lord
Salisbury. delivered a fiery speech. He
asked why the premier made IT so ,lifli-
cult for the man in the street u support
his policy. The past conduct OF the Gov
eminent would come up for investigation
some day, he hoped, adding
I'VE have the right to know t., before
the crisis, the intelligence department
supplied the Government sufficient infor
nation. If not dismiss the department.
If the Government possessed the infor-
nation their responsibility is heavy.
hope that when the time for the investi-
CATION arrives those who have served
the Queen will be covered with such
glory that the eyes of the investigators
will be daZzled.
Il was appalled, AT the nature and style
of Lord Salisbury's speech. We now
have 10000 men in South Africa, yet
we are with difficulty holding our own.
The attitude of foreign nations is de-
scribed as friendly. But that does not
strike me as being SO amicable as the
words would imply. l deem it necessary
to know what the Government is going to
do. / agree with Lord Salisbury that
the country can carry this thing through
in spite of all the impediments of men
and methods which have shackled ii in
the past. but | venture to say it will
have to be inspired by loftier tone and