The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-14
CRUSADE AGAINST BALFOUR.
His Utterances Described as Offensive
to a Nation of Mourners.


Downright. 1900. by the Associated Press.)
LONDON, Jan. 13.-The frivolity dis
played in his recent speeches by Mr.. Bal
four. the government leader In the House
Of Commons, has landed what has been
known as the strongest government OF
modern times in the slough. from which
extrication is difficult. If not doubtful. His
light hearted remarks. which were pleas
antly accepted by the nation when times
were good and all was WELL are offensive to
people mourning for lost sons and deeply
angered by unprecedented reverses. Mr..
Balfour, If he had tried could not have
more successfully put his countrymen on
edge. and when Lord Salisbury speaks he
will have much to atone for. The memory
OF Mr.. Chamberlains alliance speech
was dying away before Mr.. Balfour put his
foot still deeper in the mire. The Conserv-
atives devoutly hope Mr.. Balfour will fol-
low Mr.. Chamberlain's example and keep
discreet silence. AS the Saturday Re-
view, one Of the government stanchest
supporters, puts ii, "the administration Is
now face to face. not with the opposition.
but with the nation" 1t is a crisis out of
which several must come with regulations
smirched, and possibly may result in the
wreck of the government. In any case,
reconstruction Of the Cabinet seems in
evitable.
The Spectator protests against making
Mr.. Balfour the scapegoat, and declares
that. though Lord Salisbury is still the
wisest mind in the empire, it is impossible
for him to continue much longer both
Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary. 1t
advocates his retention at the head of the
Foreign Office and the appointment of Mr..
Balfour as Premier, the Marquis of Lans-
downe being succeeded in the War Office
by III. Arnold-Forster.
The same paper. gravely reviewing the
serious military conditions of the country.
advocates an elaborate plan for home de-
fense, including volunteer army, recruit
ed from civilians and former soldiers,
which would not actually be called out
except in case of invasion, but which would
form nucleus to enable the standing
army to be sent abroad without qualms.
IF we are to escape conscription." says
the Outlook, "the public must be educated
to take more serious, discriminating and
self-sacrifcing interest in the army"
The extremist view OF the situation Is
well voiced In a public letter written by
Henry Broadhurst, Liberal Labor member
Of Parliament for Leicester, formerly Sec
retary of the parliamentary committee of
the trades union congress, in which he
says: 1.-The amazing confession of ig-
norance, incapacity and almost Indifference
made by Mr.. Balfour makes the stoutest
hearts feel that in the hands of the present
government the safety of the empire is
x..~kx y. ~f- l,-s
Mr.. Balfour's statement that three army
corps were placed in the field without
hitch has given the critics an excellent
and not wasted opportunity of pointing out
that, though enough individuals to make
up three corps are on their way to South
Africa, they only have the artillery requi-
site, according to the British regulations,
for one corps. while in cavalry and army
service components they are almost equally
deficient, proving the very lack of organi-
zation so frequently laid at the door of the
War Office
Edward Blake, Nationalist member of
Parliament for South Longford, formerly
chancellor of Upper Canada, has been
speaking very plainly on the subject of the
rumors that members of certain Irish So
cieties contemplated an invasion of Can
ada He said to the people of Longford
that If he believed 1t was true he would
have borrowed a Mauser, have learned the
new rife practice and hSve taken passage
to Canada to help defend my wife, chill
dren and grandchildren from my brother
home rulers" The former Canadian lead
er has sympathy with the more ad-
vanced sections Of his party.
The London Sun to-day reports that on
the reassembling OF Parliament JAN 80 the
government will Immediately ask for a
further war credit of f20,00O0O0.