Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, FEB. 24, 1900. Mr Balfour on the War.

Manawatu Herald, 24 February 1900, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, FEB. 24, 1900. Mr Balfour on the War.

In the London Times weekly edition is to be found the speech delivered by Mr Balfour at a meeting at Dewsbury in connection with the annual conference of the National Union of Conservative Associations. He said he thought it was desirable as a justification of the past and as a guide to the future to make some answer to the accusations that have hurled against the Government. The speech was one of Mr^ Balfour's best and was received with very much applause. In referring to foreign criticism that the Government had been moved by corrupt motives in adopting a policy having for its object to destroy the independence of free and self-governing Republics he replied — " Those who make that charge have never made themselves acquainted with the colonial system of this country. It is quite true that we have a great, though indirect, interest in the good government of every part of the civilized globe. It is true that we have a great, though an indirect interest in seeing that in no part of the world is commerce strangled by tyranny, corruption, or maladministration. In that sense, no doubt, it is for our interest to see that some better form of government should be adopted in the Transvaal. But as to the direct pecuniary interest which these critics seem to assume. What is it ? What penny of direct profit is it our habit to extract from our colonies? Has it ever occurred to the mind of an English statesman for over 100 years that taxes should be imposed on colonies for the benefit of the Mother country ? If it be true, as it is trae, that we have no pecuniary advantage to gain of this direct and corrupt kind from any conquests or any territorial acquisitions, are we not, on the other hand, sacrificing the lives of those dearest to as, risking the death, as each one can probably say, as I myself and most of us can say, of those who by blood or by friendship are most closely bound to us, in a contest from whioh we have nothing to gain except the security and the honour of the Empire ? I am told by the same class of critics as those on whom I have already animadverted that we have been moved to adopt this military and aggressive policy by the influence of South African capitalists. Ido not understand this distinction between capitalists and workmen. If anything we are doing is for the interest of the South African capitalists it is also for the benefit of the South African workmen, chiefly men of English blood, English descent, English language, and English nationality. But with regard to those who make these charges, whether it be that we are influenced by the employers or the employed, have they reflected how serious is the charge against the Transvaal Government whioh this accusation against us implies? For please mark this. The critios tell us that we are making war to please the owners of the South African goldfields. Those owners, by the very fact that there is war, have seen their property threatened, their mines shut up for an indefinite period, and they have been told in language as plain as one of the greatest masters of plain language could speak— l mean the Chancellor of the Exchequer— they have been told in perfectly plain language by him that, when the war is concluded, the mines, in common with other forms of property in the Transvaal State will undoubtedly be burdened with some of the charges connected with the war* Therefore the acousa.

tion against the Transvaal Government, not against us, comes to this, that the Government is so bad, it has so iniquitously used its powers to strangle a legitimate industry, that it pays the industry and is for the advantage of the industry that for the time being its workers should be swept to the four winds of Heaven, that its mines should be shut up, and that it should be finally saddled with a heavy charge in consequence of the war, and, after submitting to all these charges, it pays them because there is some chance of their being put under a good administration under which they have so long groaned. I cannot imagine a more severe commentary upon the Transvaal Government than this argumo it, which is entirely used, so far as I know, by those whose boast it is that they support that Government."

Further on Mr Balfour referred to two very interesting points, first in regard to the negotiations prior to declaration of war, and secondly to the reasons that prompted the Boers to declare war. As to the negotiations Mr Balfour said, " But if you want, in order to meet your enemies in the gate, a plain and simple argument which must appeal to all I will give it you. It would have been in the power of the South African Republic at any moment, up to that fatal Wednesday when they declared war — it would have been in their power undoubtedly to checkmate English diplomacy, if English diplomacy had for its object to provoke war, by any measure which gave immediate and substantial representation to the Uitlanders ; and they could at the same time have claimed, if they had liked, that we should guarantee their independence, I say that, because it will be in your recollection that we offered to guarantee their independence in, I think it was, the year 1896 or 1897, and the offer was scornfully rejected. Now, it is folly to say that people who could have avoided war by this simple procedure were driven into war itself by the wiles of unscrupulous diplomatists or by the follies of foolish diplomatists. They had their fate in their own hands.

I have been reluctantly brought to the conclusion that there was another motive, at least as strong, which should have made, either now or hereafter, war an absolute and inevitable necessity. I now believe this — that the declaration of war by the Transvaal Government and the Orange Free State, was not any despairing struggle for liberty, but a bold bid for Empire. I now believe that it was not to preserve what they had, but to get what they had not, that they went to war. I now believe that nothing less than to make themselves-^-these two Republics, as a nucleus and what additions they could obtain to them — the centre of a Dutch -speaking paramount Power in South Africa, and to exclude for ever the hated Britisher from any dominating influence in the future in that part of the world — that is the only explanation which fits the facts : that is the only explanation which, amongst other things makes the policy of the Orange Free State credible. We never had any quarrel with the Orange Free State; we never did interfere, or desired to interfere, with their internal affairs. If I had been ar.ked two months ago whether it was likely we should be at war with the Orange Free State, I should have said " You might as well expect us to be at war with Switzerland." They were local friends from whom we had nothing to fear and who had nothing to fear from us. These people have risked their all upon the stake of war, and I say that it is incredible that the risk should be run merely to prevent the Uitlanders getting the vote, and that you have to regard this transaction as part of a larger policy, a deeper and darker design, which aimed at nothing less than to substitute a Boer for British rule."

In 1898 only 4,851 tons of hemp were exported, of the value of £74,---556, whilst last year 10,373 tons were sent away of the value of £184,411.

There will be a harvest thanksgiving service at All Saints' Church to-morrow, when the Church will be prettily decorated with flowers, fruit and corn.

Ochardists should now be pruning their fruit trees, summer pruning being strongly recommended by the authorities. From our own experience we can endorse this advice. All the new wood should be cut away above the second leaf, then these joints form fruit buds.

The Returning Officer for the Licensing Election paid a visit to town on Wednesday and had an interview with the Mayor and Councillor Jenks. In considering the Borough's ardent desire for retrenchment it is possible certain polling-places will be cut out, and voters who have to travel a distance to vote will know to whom they are indebted for the inconvenience.

Buyers will be urging the flaxmillers that owing to the cessation of the war in the Phillipines the export of manila will be recommenced, and lower prices will be offered. It would be well for millers to be careful, as if any offer to purchase is made it will show that manila is not in great quantity, indeed it is unlikely that there can be any quantity at the present to ship as the ports have been open some time. Buyers have had much the best of deals with the millers but the display of a little caution might prevent their doing ever so much better,

Last night in the Victoria Hall the members of the late Cycling Club met together at a free and easy social to commemorate the disbandment of the Club. The earlier part of the evening was passed at progressive euchre, the players competing for prizes. Mr J. ! Howan secured first prize, and Mr Overend gained the second. Supper was the next item on the programme, and was much appreciated by all present. During the progress of the meal, Mr W. S. Stewart proposed the toast of the evening " Peace to the memory of the Cycling Club," and in a pithy little speech thanked all those who had taken an active part in the management of the Club. Mr T. C. Dunckley (the late secretary of the Club), suitably responded. After supper songs were contributed by Messrs Ennis, Stansell, Betty, MacDermott and Hamer. Mr Chas. Austin favoured the company with several violin selections, and also accompanied the singers. After spending a most enjoyable even- ■ ing, the social was brought to a close about midnight by the company singing " God Save the Queen."

What naughty, naughty people they must be who live at Te Horo. The Otaki Mail reports that at an entertainment a kiss was put up for sale— The kiss was offered by the worthy Chairman (Mr J. R. Stansell). The first lady bid 2s 6d, amidst thunders of applanse, but when the kiss was knocked down by the auctioneer to Mrs Dalzell at 3s, the building rang again with cheers, and the audience laughed till their sides ached. The money was duly paid, but we have reason to believe that the kiss was never handed over to the purchaser.

Somebody ha 9 charge of our roads — at least that is the general impression of the ratepayers from an inspectien of the monthly paysheet ; but which is rapidly lost when a journey up the Moutoa road is taken. The heavy carting now done on the road has caused sorrie ruts Which would not cost much to fill up and repair if taken in time but a large expense will be occassioned it the t?oad is neglected until the rain sets in.

The man who was sentenced to hard labour at Wanganui on Thursday got into trouble froth the theft of two extraordinary things to risk one's liberty for. One article was a Turf Register, and the other an ancient umbrella* The owner of the umbrella is a good judge o£ stopk but does not shine so well in his selection of the first named article.

" Whatever else may be thought with regard to the Rakaia railway accident," said His Honor Mr Justice Denniston in Cbristchurch the other day, in a Case for damages, "it has been by no means an unmitigated disaster to the medical profession, judging from the bills which have come before the Court.