Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/240

 232] ENGLISH HISTORY. [dec.

the South African population the " utmost self-government compatible with the future peace an<J prosperity of South Africa/ ' That certainly was not a demand for the continuance of any extra-imperial rights to either of the Boer States. An amendment to the resolution, expressing the belief that " a wise statesmanship could and would have avoided the war," was only carried by 114 votes to 94 ; while a further amend- ment, directed against the clause in the resolution as to the vigorous prosecution of the war, was lost on a show of hands. These results, positive and negative, of the meeting of a body largely representative of advanced Liberalism and aversion to Mr. Chamberlain, were certainly noteworthy.

Speaking on Tyneside on December 16, the day on which the news of General Buller's failure to force the passage of the Tugela was known throughout the country, Mr. Asquith said that we must not lose all sense of proportion and perspective, and " exaggerate to a degree which any student of history knows to be almost grotesque the reverses that we have sustained." This contest was, notwithstanding, of exceeding gravity. "It has become something much wider and deeper than a mere question of asserting and maintaining our position in South Africa. It is our title to be known as a world-wide Power that is now upon trial." We were not going to fail. It was evident the Boer strength and resources were underesti- mated, and we had to rectify that mistake at whatever sacrifice. Then, the war over, we had to establish a modus vivendi for the two races.

Nor was there any indication of a lower conception of national duty in the presence of reverses in a speech delivered on December 19 at Aberdeen by Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman. " The gravity of the situation," he said,, " the formidable char- acter of the campaign, as now disclosed, its inevitable vicis- situdes and occasional mishaps and failure, which must mingle with its successes, these furnish no ground for doubt or for despondency. They will only make us brace ourselves more earnestly to the task before us. There may be, doubtless there will be, lamentable loss of life, but the end cannot be doubted." The clearness and dominance of the imperial note in Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman's utterance were, however, appreciably diminished by his anxiety at the same time to retort on Mr. Chamberlain's replies at Leicester to some of his previous criticisms ; to declare to the world that, in his opinion, " Mr. Chamberlain is mainly responsible for this war ; " and to prove that the Government ought to have realised the menacing development of the Transvaal armaments, and at least to have secured the military position of the colonies before entering upon an active controversy which might lead to hostilities.

At the moment criticism of this type did not accord with the temper of the country, which was entirely engrossed with watching and supporting the various measures announced by