South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 4 (of 8): From Lord Roberts' Entry into the Free State to the Battle of Karree — John Shaqi
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 4 (of 8): From Lord Roberts' Entry into the Free State to the Battle of KarreeCreswicke, Louis
History
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 4 (of 8): From Lord Roberts' Entry into the Free State to the Battle of Karree
Creswicke, Louis
South African War, 1899-1902; Transvaal (South Africa) -- History
Mr. Goschen admitted the gravity of the situation and the responsibility
of the Government _en masse_. The Cabinet, he decided, must stand or
fall together. The Admiralty, in acceptation of its responsibility, had
assisted the army with heavy guns without weakening its resources.
Lastly, he touched enthusiastically on the exhibition of Colonial
loyalty:--
"Before concluding I must say a word with reference to the
Colonists. They have been supporting us with unstinted loyalty
and unstinted generosity. There has been a spirit shown by the
Colonies of affection to the mother country which has been the
admiration of the world. May we not suggest that that unstinted
loyalty and that unstinted generosity is to some extent a
reward for the consideration which has been shown the Colonies
for some time past; and is it not right to remember that for
years there has not been a Secretary for the Colonies who has
so endeavoured to win the affection of the Colonies as the
right hon. gentleman who now holds that office? You tax us with
not having shown foresight and judgment. At all events our
treatment of the Colonies has ensured, not their loyalty--that
will always be there--but the enthusiastic impulse of the
Colonies to come to the assistance of the mother country. We
have a great work to do; we want to do that work, and now hon.
gentlemen opposite move an amendment the only object of which
could be to damage and weaken the Government, who are the
instruments of the national will. If hon. gentlemen opposite do
not wish to take our places and to bear the burden which rests
on our shoulders, is it wise to endeavour to shake the
confidence of the country in the men who must continue this
war, and gather together all the forces of the Empire to bring
it to a successful conclusion? Supposing there should be a
division which could be called a bad division for the
Government, what would the cheers which would greet that
division mean? They would mean, 'We have succeeded in damaging
and weakening the Government.' The time may come when we will
be damaged. If the war is not successful, sweep us away as men
who have no judgment, but do not lame the arm of the Executive
Government when they have such a work on hand as we have got to
do. There has been patriotic co-operation between us and some
of the Liberal Party. We thank them for it. I believe this is a
Parliamentary bad dream--an interlude between the patriotic
attitude of these gentlemen a few weeks ago and the patriotic
attitude which I hope we may look forward to when this debate
closes. They have assured the country they will support us in
going forward. I thank them for that, for it is more important
than the petty criticisms to which we have been treated. We are
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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