The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-06
GREAT BRITAIN's GREAT NEED.

GREAT BRITAIN'S GREAT NEED.
The great need of Great Britain is a
ministry capable Of commanding the
( confidence Of the people or at least a
/ statesman whose lead the people are
willing to follow. II is evident, from the
| comments in the London newspapers on
the debate in Parliament last week. that
/ there is great dissatisfaction with the
ministry. There is feeling that there is
no member OF in ana no member of Par
lament who has the ability to lead the
Empire at this critical time in its affairs
This feeling is largely the result of the
debate in Parliament last week. 1t was
expected that there would be strong and
aggressive speeches indicating the pur
pose Of the government to push the war
in South Africa with the utmost vigor,
ana declaring that there was not the re-
hottest doubt of the ultimate outcome Of
it. Instead Of that, there were weak and
nerveless speeches by the leaders OF the
party in power, in which it was assert
ed that if the opposition party had not
made disastrous blunders in dealing with
the Transvaal republic fifteen years ago,
there would not nov be. war in South
Africa. The opposition tried to make pc
litical capital out of the gloomy situa-
ton. ana the government attempted to
defend itself by putting the blame for the
war on the opposition.
The public men of England those who
are a the head Of the parties, appear to
be unequal TO the demands of the situa-
ton The people realize this, and, conse
quently, there IS a wide spread feeling of
dependency 1t really looks as if there
We're need of statesmen at home as well
as generals at the seat of war.
Mr. George Wyndham, Under Secretary
of War, seems to be the only one con-
nected with the government who has any
backbone. or fair understanding of
what the situation calls for. Lord Sails
bury, the prime minister. is described as
acting as if only half awake, Mr.. Bal
four the government leader, creates the
impression of making an unsuccessful ef-
fort TO be cheerful while Mr.. Chamber
lam, the Secretary of State for the Colo
MES the man who is to a great extent re
sponsible for the war, maintains the atti-
he had the situation well in hand and
was only waiting for a favorable moment
to announce that there never was time
when he felt the least uneasiness on ac-
count of the reverses of British arms, be-
ing confident of the ultimate triumph Of
the British cause.
In the meantime there are signs of I'M
rest among the people A new ministry is
not boldly talked of yet, but it is evident
that there is a growing feeling among the
people that the government must he Put
in other hands before it will be possible
for the nation to put forth its real
strength. y
The call of Lord Roberts for 10000 men
in addition to the $4,000 ne already has
amazes the people. They cannot under
stand why it is necessary to have such
a vast army to carry on war against
two little republics. In the meantime it is
becoming difficult to get volunteers in
England. AS a matter of fact, it is prob
able that Lord Roberts would much pre-
fer volunteers from the colonies. They
are much the better soldiers
The question of finances is coming to
the front and it alarms the people 1t is
evident that there must be a great loan.
The cost of the war is going to be inn
mense. Unless victories of imoor5ance a;e
won soon, it will not be possible to hor-
row money on very favorable terms. The
British people have enough, certainly, to
make them gloomy.