Lord Roberts’ Farewell.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 12, 16 January 1901, Page 3

Lord Roberts’ Farewell.

A FERVENT SPEECH,

Is the course of his historic speech prior to leaving Capetown, Lord Roberts said: — “ Every Council Chamber throughout the civilised world will have noted, and will remember that England, isolated though she may be from other nations, so far as treaties and alliances are concerned, had only to give the signal, and forthwith from all quarters of the globe flocked men of her own Btock ready to do battle in defence of her honor and prestige, and never has that old saying, ‘ blood is thicker than water,’ been better exemplified. Never has a mother had more reason to be proud of her valiant sons than England has to-day. The future prosperity and well-being of South Africa do not depend upon the action, ability, or governing power of any one man, but upon the hearty co-opera-tion of the various nationalities by whom it is inhabited. The Dutch and English must work together, irrespective of race, religion, or sentiment, if they wish to see their country contented and flourishing, and it will be my proudest boast if I can claim to have done anything under the stress of war’s stern necessity to hinder that friendly feeling which I hope may be established between the two races, or to prevent their hearty co-operation in their efforts to establish a good government in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony. We must forgive and try to forget all that would encourage bitterness of feeling or tend to give to future generations any idea that anything remains to be atoned for on either side. God has given into our hands a great heritage, and we have had to pay a heavy price for it in the blood of our dearest and our best. We must in the future not be negligent of our trust, as we have been in the past. We must try to be able when called upon to do so, to give a good account of our stewardship. AVe must be watchful, strong, and of • good courage, lest we should forget that which alone makes war justifiable and conquest laudable —the benefit of the many, the better government of the conquered country, and the establishment within its borders of justice, mercy, liberty, and truth. Three years ago, when England’s sons from over the seas were gathered to-' gether in London to rejoice with those at Home over our beloved Queen’s Jubilee, and we wero all glorying in the maintenance of our world-wide dominions, that Imperialminded poet, Rudyard Kipling, called upon us to remember that there are other duties besides national glorification, and, in words breathing forth alt that is best in patriotism, ho gave a solemn warning which I don’t think I can do better than to recall to your memory. “ God of our fathers, known of old, Lord of our far-flung battle line, Under Whoso awful Hand we hold Dominion over palm and pine— Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget. Lest we forget.”