The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-18
LORD RoSEBERYS SPEECH

The speech Of Lord Rosebery deliv-
cred in Chesterfield, Monday night, had
been looked forward to with great in
terest by all Englishmen. Judging
from the reports of it that have
reached this country Lord Rosebery
met the occasion in manner eminent
ly satisfactory to his friends. The
speech, It is supposed, heralded Lord
Roseberys return to activity in po-
liticaI life. Though the night was
stormy fully 5000 persons assembled.
Enthusiasm ran high during the two
hours the eX-pTime minister spoke, and
the more sanguine Of his admirers were
free to declare that Lord Rosebery
would again lead the Liberal party
and lead it to victory at the next cleo
ton.
A considerable portion of the address
was devoted to the possibility of
uniting the Liberal ranks. Old time
policies. Lord Rosebery said. must be
set aside, and the party must make its
policy abreast Of the times. At the
same time the party must not move
much faster than the mass of the ma
ton was prepared to move.
Interest in Lord Rosebery's speech
naturally centered in the expression of
his attitude toward the Boer war
There was nothing in his utterances
upon that point to comfort the pro-
Beers. In a word, he declared that
the war must be fought. There were
many things to be remedied. The
workings of the Parliamentary ma
chine must be examined: the war Office
must be overhauled; the question of
the navy must be looked into; COM
merce and industry must be studied
and better systems Of education must
be devised to enable the country to
keep pace with other nations. The
present government had been very
tactless and had needlessly antagonized
other nations. Lord Rosebery roundly
blamed the government for not de-
manding. when 1t became aware of Mr..
Krugers warlike preparations. the
cause o. them, and demanding that
they cease.
Lord Rosebery was free with his
criticism. bat when it came to the
question Of the war now in hand, he
was. as stated. uncompromislng
It is not apparent that. II Lord Rose
berry should have his way. the Beers
would be likely to fare any better than
they are likely to fare under the pres
ent government, Lord Rosebery said
that he was anxious that the war
should end, but that he was convinced
that the nation must prosecute it with
all the energy and resources II could
muster. He acquitted the govern
ment Of any intentional barbarity. The
refugee camps had been necessary. The
proclamation Of martial Law was JUS
tihable
Lo1d Rosebery condemned. on the
other hand, Lord Miners policy. that
no formal peace should be signed; that
the Beers should be hunted until a few
were left. and that the few should be
regarded a5 bandits.
LORD Rosebery favored emphatically
the signing Of a formal peace con
tract. While the government should
not Offer terms it should recognize and
consider overtures for peace made by
the enemy. He advocated what he
termed generous amnesty. he would
grant full civil rights to all Beers who
would take and sign a drastic oath Of
allegiance ne would be liberal IN
money matters, rebuilding and re-
stocking farms for the Beers. The pur-
pose should bs 70 heal the wounds laid
open By the war.
1t was at the close % his address that
Lord Rosebery offered his services to
the British people.