The Portland daily press., 1900-02-07


made In September which. socerding to
with the msintsnsnce Of the indspsn-
dencs Of the Trsnsvsal and proper In
stallment Of long delayed justice 70 the
British population Of the TrAnsvaal.
II he Thought the British negotistions
were mere cloak TO attack the inde-
In spite OF the Invasion Of British terri
tory and the loss Of British lives, he
could not have rsconoiled his conscienos
with voting q penny for the prosecution
Of the war. But that was not the opin-
ion OF the Houss Of Commons. nor OF the
great Of tie ~ usns snd
q united people Doubtless there hsu
been q demonstratibls laok Of foresight
and iusieht. Mr.. Chamberlain, no
doubt, would give Iuuch for ohance OF
re-editins his despasches. But thsrs
happened or in anything which they
could contemplate at present Tor the
"croakings" OF pessimism or fits OF panic.
Mr.. John Burns, radical, congratulated
the opposition upon having the courage
to do its duty "uniniluenosd By newspa-
pers owned by blaokguards and edited by
ruiiians who ciamor for war.
He characterized 1t as absurd TO say
that the debate would be an encourage
ment and an incentive TO the Beers.
HThe Beers do not need an incentive"
exclaimed MIR. Burns. "Thts was sup
piled them years ago by the blunderins
policy OF the colonial secretary whose
speech might be fairly summarized as foi-
lows:
"There is no argument for war. There
fore wave the union jack. A few mis-
takes have been committed. Therefore
double your army in South Africa.
"And then peroration In the language
- nd erfrif of the DriZa
ring"
MIR. Speaker-"O Order, order"
Mr.. BuPns--"f you take exception 70
'rothouss,' MIR. Speaker. withdraw 1t
ana substitute stock exchange
Sir henry Cainpbell- Zimmerman, the
of the amendment, because 1t was for the
opposition to record Its judgment He
said the government nould hardly pose as
oonquerors upon whose brows laurels
wreiths should be placed; for their
diplomacy had failed and their military
operations had been unsuccessful. Thess
facts, Sir Henry declared, invited oriti-
oism. At the same time he would dspre-
cate exaggeration and would deny the
existeBcs of national humiliation and
| disoomtturs. He also denied that the
| opposition WAS actuated by desire to
chamber into power or to seek party ad-
vantage. The composed and sensible
| tone of the speech Of the colonial seore-
| tary" he had been glad to hear. III the
government were aware Of the disparity
between the defensive forces OF the South
African colonies and the military strength
Of the Beers when the negotiations wsra
| entered upon no condemnation In his
judgment could be too severe.
| Sir Henry ridiculed Lord Salisbury q
| statement that the secret service fund
| was tco small and pointed out that the
whole sum had not been expended. de
thought the government should have
Gisavowed the Jameson raid and given
cuaran tees for the future as Great Britain
| would then have been in q position to
| demand that the Beers cease arming.
Sir Henry demanded to know upon
what eyidenos the existence OF u Dutch
conspiracy was asserted, declaring that
unless the charges were well founded. II
| was q most wenton insult to her majes-
tvs loyal Dutch subjects at the Cape.
fhe war must be prosecuted with vigor,
i he maintained, tut, provided British ter
risories were freo aud Great Britain's
military superiority we're vindicatsd.
what mattered 1t as to the hour and
ministerial protests.) What really did
m stter was, he affirmed, that the settle.
II ent should be made in the right sp trit.
MIR. Balfour. who on rising, was lou d.
ly oheered, saidi
What Is the object Of the amendmentl
w 1hu IL likely W nbtaiaA Oho Aash"
have expected that the war office would
| be attacked. but that 10 not the case.
| am driven TO the conclusion that the
amendment is an attack upon ths coloni-
al secretary. (Hear, hear.) Well. the CO.
ionisl secretary may well ignore these
persistent attacks. The right honorable
gentleman may remember that IL has
| been during his term Of office as colonial
secretary that the British em pire as a
whole has first shown Its fun conscious
ness OF what 1t is and Of what Its desti'
niss are. loud cheers.)
Others have certainly contritutsd to
this result; but 1t is In no small degree
owing to the great Administrative abiii-
ties of the right honorable gentleman,
the colonial secretary, that tine dramatic
moment has occurred, for the first time
in our history. when every British col
ony has Joined the mother country to
Garry out a great imperial work; and.
when all these petty and contemptible
charges are buried in the oblivion they
go well deserve. the name of tae right
honorable gentleman will he forever as
ISOLATED with that great..movsmsns In oui
history"
position of wishing to oust the govern
ment, a suggestion that was received
with Considerable laughter. He com
mented upon the diversity OF views In
| the opposition ranks.
| 'Is the opposition" he asked, wise ol
patrioticf What the country has to feai
is foreign nations; and the Transvaal pc
liticians may think they can find their
opportunity In our dissensions. The
House OF Com mons cannot do mach t.
help our arms. but this 1t can do-it
can show that behind our soldiers In the
field there Is united county" (Lodd
applause)
'"Can the members Of the opposition
reflect with equanimity upon the fact
that the vote they are about to give up
on the amendment may lengthsn the
war and Increase the tragic list OF losse'
and probably add one fraction TO ths
chances of European complication sP'
MIR. Balfour. In closing. sppsalsd to tbs
members of the House irrespective Of
party to rise to "tbe height reached by
those We represent" He declared that
II they did this, then In short time the
sm pire would issue from the struggle
"stronger not only in the conscious
mess OF It's strength, but in the eyes o
| the civilized world"
He resumed his seat amid prolonged
| cheers.
/ When the division bell rang. the Irish
mem bers rose In body and Left the
house without voting. Several liberali
hsfainad Soma afhAFa voted with thu