New-York tribune., 1900-05-12
SPEECH BY MR.. CH4MBERLAIN.
BoER REPUBLICS To BE BROUGHT UNDER
THE BRITISH FLAG

Birmingham May 11.-Joseph Chamberlain.
Secretary of State for the Colonies. pre-
sided this evening at the annual meeting
of the Grand Committee of the Liberal Un-
ionsts of Birmingham. the occasion being his
first appearance here since the outbreak of the
war. The meeting was held in the Birmingham
Town Hall. the approaches to which were
thronged An immense audience greeted Mr..
Chamberlain. who was accompanied by his sons.
Resolutions OF sympathy with Mr.. and Mrs.
Chamberlain In their recent bereavement. the
death Of William C. EndcOtt father of Mrs
Chamberlain. were adopted. and in expressing
his thanks Mr.. Chamberlain said:
am deeply touched by this expression of YOUR
sense OF the loss which my wife has lately sus-
tanned. This is the first time she has been alb
sent since our marriage from any OF these great
meetings and know that II is a sorrow to her
TO be absent tonight. 1t would have been
genial to me to avoid all public appearances at
this time. but Mr. Endicott was perhaps more
than any other man / ever knew. mbued with
sense that all private feeling should give way
to public duty. / feel. therefore, that / am
best hOnoring his memory In keeping those pub
lie engagements which I had already made
prior TO his death.
Proceeding then to discuss public affairs Mr..
Chamberlain said:
The peace at any price party does harm at
home. but it does much abroad Its members
must accept the responsibility for numerous at
tackS upon various statesmen by persons who
are always willing to think i'll of England
our minds. however. are not interested just
now in domestic matters We are in the midst
OF great war. our ultimate success in which
1 have never for a moment doubted; and war
which. under Lord Roberts's skilful guidance.
seems almost within measurable distance of a
satisfactory conclusion. When on a previous
occasion i said the sands running out, IL
was only plain language. and il was meant to
De plain language. 1t is insult to my col
leagues to say that am responsible for the war
or TO say that 1t is war of capitalists.
We found that a country in the midst of our
possessions in Africa. country which owed It's
independence to magnanimity. a country
under the suzerainty of the Queen-nOt an ISL
and in the Atlantic Ocean. but a country sur
rounded on all sides by British cOOnieS-had set
up as Its ideal the reduction of the British race.
which forms a majority of it's population, to the
position of an inferior people.
/ would not be ashamed TO take the whole
responsibility for the war. but If there were
any special responsibility it rests with those
who msled Mr. Kruger and who encouraged
him to resist demands whose moderation had
been acknowledged. If England has erred. she
has erred in being too lenient-
Turning to the question of the conditions of
South African settlement and the fate Of the
republics. Mr. Chamberlain said:
It is premature to discuss details but am
quite ready to take the opinions of the country.
and, above all, the opinions of those Self-gov-
erning colonies which have come so magnh-
Gently to our assistance. While the Government
do wish to be vindictive they are deter
mined that never again shall the republics be
nursery or conspiracy. and they Will see that
justice Is done to those who determined to
recognize the independence of the Boer repub-
lies (cheers), and determined that the
republics shall be finally Incorporated under the
British flag
For an interval they must be a Crown coll
ony, such India Is; but hope they viii
eventually become a great self-governing colony
like Canada and Australia
TO BUILD BRIDGES IN SOUTH AFRICA.