Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-12-12
FIXING PARTY POLICY.
Liberal Conferences at Derby Gives
Encouragement to Its Followers.

| LONDON, Dec 11.-Those uber.
ais who have always been opponent
of Mr.. Chamberlain's policy are very
well pleased with the result of the
liberal conference at Derby. 1t is
not that all the delegates agreed in
| regard to the origin of the war. They
have, however. done four things, of
which the last is by far the most
important
They condemned the concentra-
ton camps. they protested against
martial law, they expressed confidence
in Sir Henry ampbell-Bannerman
and they resolved that a special com
mittee shall be sent to South Africa
as Lord Durham was sent to Cana
da more than go years ago. with full
powers of negotiating and concluding
peace
| OF course. this last step will not be
taken The opposition cannot gov
ern the country. but at last we have
definite line of action upon which
the liberal party may unite.
The body which affirmed these
things is the general committee of the
National Liberal Federation. 1t is
thoroughly representative, being Sc
| lected by the liberal associations in
all the English constituencies The
| federation itself meets early in the
year, chiefly for the purpose of list
ening to speeches, for the decisions
| that have been previously reached by
the committee cannot be amended
They may he rejected, but of course
| they never are.
The Times attacks the liberal i'm
| perialists for not going to Derby and
supporting their views but that is
| most unfair. They could not go un-
less they were elected. and there is
| not reason to suppose that any who
We're elected stayed away. The fur
| ther remark of the same paper that
| thew constitute the bulk of the party
is therefore palpable delusion.
The principal speaker at the meet
ing was Augustine Birrell, who has al
| ways. held that President Kruger was
| responsible for the war We are q
long way from the time when that
| was burning question. 1t was so
no doubt in October. 1899, but in De
cember, 1901, we have to consider not
how the war began, but how it may
be ended.
Mr.. Emmott, who is Winston
Churchills liberal colleague in the
representation of Oldham deprecat-
ed anything which would have the
appearance of censure on Lord Nil
ner, but he was not well received.
The liberals are tired of always hav-
ing Lord Miner thrown into their
teeth. He'is not one of themselves
and they see no reason why they are
expected to uphold him, if they think
him an obstacle to peace.
1t is said upon pretty good author
ity that the proclamation of martial
law in Cape Colony, or at all events
in Cape Town, was forced upon the
government by the high commission
er, who threatened to resign if it was
not made. The cabinet may have
been afraid of provoking the war par
ty at the Cape by accepting his resig
nation, but that is no reason why lib
erals, who do not believe in martial
law for civilians while the ordinary
courts are open, should take sides
with the high commissioner against
| principles they have professed ever
| since the days of Governor Eyre.
Liberal members who have been
visiting their constituents say that a
| great change of opinion is apparent
and that many men who year ago
were for fighting to finish are nov
earnestly in favor OF an armistiCo
and negotiations. What these con
yerts feel, | take it, is that the min
listers are committed to policy of
unconditional surrender, which may
take years to enforce, and will not in
the end produce a lasting peace.
If, on the other hand, peace is con
cluded by negotiations, thousands of
lives would be saved. The Beers
would give up all idea of fighting
again, the Cape Dutch would cease to
be disaffected, and British supremacy
in Soath Africa would be secure.
This is unfortunately not the de
clared policy of the government nor
of those who keep the government in
office. 1t is still fight 10 a finish" i"
unconditional surrender. and so
forth. With them there is, there
fore, as far as can see. no immedi-
ate prospect of peace unless the re-
sistance of the Beers should suddenly
and Unexpectedly collapse. But the
proceedings at Derby show that pa.
cific influences are gaining ground
at least among the liberals. Last
December such unanimity would have
been impossible.
The name of the LIBERAL leader
was received by the delegates with
interest. Sir Henry Campbell Ban
herman does not please his political
opponents, but he has kindled the
spirit of hope and confidence among
the liberals to which they have lone
been strangers.