Page:Eminent English liberals in and out of Parliament.djvu/152

 proclamation without the sanction of the High Commissioner, and against the wishes of the Boers, who publicly protested against the outrage in the proportion of twelve to one. The subjugation of the Transvaal was perhaps the most treacherous act, the basest manifestation of our "spirited foreign policy;" and jet, alas! Lord Sandon, in the debate on Sir Charles Dilke's memorable resolution, was able to say with truth, "The honorable member for Liskeard has a right to raise the question of the Transvaal; but most of those opposite can scarcely do so with good grace. The annexation of the Transvaal was accepted generally by the two great political parties in the House."

Having done our best to restore the emancipated Roumelians to the hateful joke of the Sultan, it was perhaps fitting that we should seek to subject these brave Dutch republicans to that of the Empress of India. O tempora, O mores! I congratulate the member for Liskeard that in this infamous transaction his hands at least are clean.