The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-07
Fifxmaurice's Amendment tn the Ad-
dress in Reply to Queens Speech
Rejected, 352 to 139.
IRISH M. P.'s DID NOT VOTE
LEFT THE HOUSE IN A BODY WHEN
THE DIVISION BELL RANG.
Several Liberals Also Abstained from
Voting, but Others stood by the
GOvernment-The Speeches.

OO&'s
mons to-day. replying to a question of
John Dillon, Nationalist member for East
Mayo, as to whether the government In
tended to treat foodstuffs contraband
during the present war, and if so under
what restrictions and limitations. Mr.. Bal
four said that foodstuffs as such. had
never been considered contraband by Great
Britain. But, he added foodstuffs intended
to supply ans army in the field were, by
the universal consent of international law.
regarded as contraband, and a prize court
should decide the facts connected with the
shipments. Asked if the government in
tended to direct cruisers to seize all car
goes for Lourenzo Marques until their
character was determined by a prize court.
Mr.. Balfour declined to make any state
ment in this connection.
Mr. wyndham, parliamentary secretary
for the War Office, replying to question,
said there was reason to believe that many
of the guns from the forts at Pretoria had
been sent to the front and that some of
them had range of over 10000 yards. The
British siege train sent out in December,
he added. had guns of equal range.
The debate on the amendment to the ad
dress in reply to the speech from the
throne was then resumed by Mr.. Asquith,
Liberal. home secretary in the Rosebery
Ministry, who, from the tenor of his re-
marks. might have held a brief for the
government. He maintained that the war
was neither intended nor desired by the
government, which naturally explained
the country's unpreparedness. Mr.. Asquith
added that the war would have been avoid
ed by President Kruger accepting the pro-
posaIs made in September, which, accord
Ing 10 the speaker, were perfectly compat-
ible with the maintenance of the independ-
ence of the Transvaal and proper INSTALL
ment of long delayed justice to the British
population. If he thought the British ne
gotiatiOnS a mere cloak to attack the indie
pendence of, or annex the Transvaal, then,
in spite of the invasion of British territory
and the loss of British lives, he could not
have reconciled his conscience with voting
but that it is not the opinion of the House
of Commons, nor of the great majority of
the country. That was why they were
united in Parliament and a united people.
Doubtless there has been a demonstrable
lack of foresight and insight. Mr.. Cham
berlain no doubt would give much for a
chance of re-editing his dispatches. But
there was no ground in anything which
had happened, or in anything which they
could contemplate at present, for the
'croakings" of pessimism fits of panic.
CAUSED A SENSATION.
The speech of Mr.. Asquith almost caused
a sensation in the House. Mr.. Asquith
represents the Roseberyites and Lord
Rosebery was present in the gallery to
hear him. The debate, for some time after
the conclusion of Mr.. Asquith's remarks.
was very fiat.
John Burns. Radical, member for Bat
of,,lo
having the courage to do it's duty ''unin-
f1uenced by newspapers owned by black
guards and edited by rufians who clamor
for war. He characterized 1t as absurd
to say that the debate would be an encour-
agement and incentive to the Beers. "The
Beers do not need an incentive" exclaimed
Mr.. Burns, this was supplied them years
ago by the laundering policy of the coloni-
al secretary, whose speech might be fairly
summarized as follows: There is no argu-
ment for war. therefore wave the union
jack. few mistakes have been COM
mitted, therefore double your army in
South Africa And then a peroration in the
language of the pothouse and the spirit of
the prize ring"
Mr.. Speaker-Order, Order!
Mr.: Burns-If you take exception of
"pothouse," Mr.. Speaker. 1 withdraw it.
and substitute stock Exchange"
Sir Henry Campbell Zimmerman the Lib
eral leader. justified the opportuneness of
the Fitzmaurice amendment because ii
was the duty of the opposition to record
its Judgment He said the government
could hardly pose as conquerors on whose
brows laurel wreaths should be placed. for
their diplomacy had failed and their mill
tary operations had been unsuccessful
These facts, Sir Henry declared. invited
criticism. At the same time he would
deprecate cxaggeration. The war must be
prosecuted with vigor, he maintained, but
provided British territories were free and
Great Britain's military superiority were
| m 70 he hos,
and place of arriving at a settlement
Loud ministerial protests.l What really
did matter was, he affirmed. that the set
element should be made in the right spirit
BALFoUR's SPEECH.
Mr.. Balfour. who on rising was loudly
cheered. said: what is the object of the
amendment? What is 1T likely to attain
One might have expected that the War
Office would be attacked. but that is not
the case. am driven to the conclusion
that the amendment is an attack on the
colonial secretary. ICries of Hear! hear.'l
Well the colonial secretary may well ig-
more these persistent attacks. The right
honorable gentleman may remember that
IL has been during his term of office as
colonial secretary that the British en-
pire as whole has first shown its full
consciousness of what it's destinies are.
Loud cheers.] Others have contributed to
this result. but Ii is in no small degree
owing to the great administrative abilities
OF the right honorable gentleman, the
colonial secretary, that the dramatic mo-
ment has occurred for the first time in our
history when every British colony has
joined the mother country TO carry out a
great imperial work; and when all these
petty and contemplate charges are buried
In the oblivion they SO We'll deserve the
name of the right honorable gentleman
will be forever associated with that great
movement I'm our history
Mr.. Balfour went on TO accuse the oppo-
sitiou OF wishing to Gust the government,
a suggestion that was received with con-
siderable laughter He commented the
diversity of views in the opposition ranks.
rs the opposition" he asked. wise or
patriotic? What the country has to fear
| Is foreign nations. and the Transvaal poll
ticians may think they can find their op-
portunity in our dissensions. The House
| of Commons cannot do much to help our
arms, but this IL can do-it can show that
behind our soldiers in the field there is a
united country. loud chcers.l Can the
members Of the opposition reflect with
| equanimity on the fact that the vote they
| are about to give the amendment may
lengthen the war and increase the tragedy
| of losses and probably add one fraction
| TO the chances of European complica-
| tom"
members of the House. irrespective of par
| ty, to rise to 1.-The height reached by those
we represent" He declared that IL they
| did this then I'm a short time the empire
would issue from the struggle stronger
not only in the consciousness of its
strength, but in the eyes of the civilized
| world" He resumed his seat amid pro-