THE COLONIES AND THE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIII, Issue 12162, 28 March 1900, Page 4

THE COLONIES AND THE WAR.

If to had looked for proof that the people of the colony sunk all political and party differences in. the effort to- assist the British cause in South Africa, we could not have found a more admirable example than the generous speech which Mr G. G. Stead delivered at the Contingent luncheon yesterday. As we have already said, most of the credit for the prompt organisation and despatch of the troops for the Transvaal is due to the Premier, but Mr Stead, in his intimate connection with the Rough Riders, has had a better opportunity than most other people of seeing how much the Government had to do and how well it was done, and w© may be sure that he was speaking only with a desire to recognise the very important services that Mr Seddon has rendered to the community When he declared that it was owing to the Premier’s energy and determination that the colony’s' loyalty had been so admirably expressed. Mr Seddon, waived these compliments aside with an implied “ It is very easy to he good when the country is behind you,” though it was of course not the policy of the Government that Mr Stead wished to praise, but the remarkable energy and thoroughness with which that policy had been carried out. And we are inclined to think that even in its policy the Government was a little in advance of public opinion. When the community had hardly made up its mind regarding the Third Contingent, Mr Seddon had already laid hiis plans for the organisation of the fourth and the fifth, and he is fully entitled to congratulate himself on his “ far-seeing view of the situation.” The greatest danger to Britain at that time lay not in tiie strength of the Boer forces, but in the half-expressed desire of European nations to embarrass the Mother Country, and we may be sure that had Britain showed any sign of weakness she would have had to deal with a very much greater difficulty than Magersfonteins and Colensos. At first sight it may appear absurd to assert that the colonies helped in a great' measure to avert that disaster, but in truth their action must have gone far towards convincing unfriendly foreigners that intervention on their part would be a very hazardous undertaking. We may be sure that the Governments, of European nations did not misread the message which flashed from every part of the Empire when its prestige was threatened. They knew that behind every man that went forth to the war there were ten more as strong and as ready to fight for their country. It was this unanimity of sentiment that enabled Lord Salisbury to meet hostile criticism with such calmness and determination. Nor was the lesson lost on the Empire. For the first time in our history we have realised our strength. Not the Mother Country alone, but every colony, may face the future with absolute self-confidence. There can be no doubt that, as Mr Seddon said yea.te'Tia.v. the colonies have a

“ tower of strength ” to the Empire, and it is additionally gratifying to know that each of them has gained ranch in the process.