The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1901. LORD ROSEBERY'S SPEECH

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10521, 18 December 1901, Page 2

The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1901. LORD ROSEBERY'S SPEECH

Thb speech - delivered by the former leader of the Liberal party in Britain at Chesterfield on the 16th inst. was worthy, of the man and tho occasion, inasmuch as a large section of tho party formerly led by tho noble lord are disgusted with the policy and utterances of Sir Henry Cainpbell-Bannerman, who has for some time past acted the part .of pro-Boor and hurled baseless charges against- not only the Government, but the army in South Africa. This was no > doubt done to give - weight to Sir Henry's demand that the war should cease, oveu at the cost of the nation's honour and self-respect. To have listened seriously to such a pusilanimous proposal would have been fatuous folly, and it was not surprising to find that the people at Home were as little inclined for "peace at any price" as those residing in the other parts of ' -ie British Empire. It was, no doubt, to counteract Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's discreditable policy, and to show the outside world thai 'the heart of the nation is still sound? that induced Lord Rosebery to deliver the speech under notice, which, even judging from the short cablegram condensation, was worthy of the . man and the occasion. It was not a party speech; it was not the time for one, - but all the. same' it> was a clear and patriotic denunciation of the Bannorman proposals for placating the Boers. .It went to the root of the matter, as. the speaker spoke Ms mind to tho Liberal Party, which ho said ought to start the coming year with a clean slate and inscribe thereon that the policy of 1902 was not that of 1892, and especially that the Party did not disassociate itself from the new sentiment of tho Empire, which sentiment, .he said, was not aggressive. Lord Rosebery emphasised his meaning by stating that any statesman, however prominent, disassociating himself from that sentiment need not be surprised if the nation ° disassociated itself from him. Sir Ilonry Campbell-Bannerman and those who think with him ought to lay. this naming to heart and cease their unpatriotic utterances. Lord Rosebery, while he severely criticised the Government, wisely stated it would not be a discreet thing to turn it out at the present critical juncture but that it would bo a proper thing to dissolve Parliament after peace had been declared, and appeal to the country. That would be tho statesmanlike course to pursue, as it would bo disastrous to Britain to add -to her present difficulties by making a change of Government at so inopportune a moment, especially as he, with the majority of the Liberal Party at Home approves of Lord Kitchener's proclamation, the declaration of martial law in Cape Colony, the prosecution of the war to its close, and the institution o£ a. passive policy of peace wlien that .gtft&tls to be &6»«ed object \b succbss--fully attained. We are pleased to .note that Lord Bosebery expressed himself strongly against Sir Henry CampbellBannerman's demand that Lord Milner should be recalled, as to do so, would ;be a fatal mistake under existing circumstances. The nation will be pleased, also, to learn 'that Lord Rosebery -is willing to place his services at the disposal of his country, and is satisfied to leave the matter to the tribunal of , public opinion and common sense. That this declaration will greatly strengthen the Liberal Party we; have little doubt, and less that the new policy enunciated by Lord Rosebery will find favour with the people at Home, as it is a commonsense • platform, which, had it been adopted earlier, would undoubtedly have worked for the strengthening of the Empire and the prestige of the nation at Home and abroad. It is also* pleasing to know that Mr Asquith and Sir Edward Grey, who were present at tho -mooting, unreservedly endorsed Lord Bosebery'B views, and thus strengthened his hands. The speech seems to have favourably impressed both the people and tho press of England, and was no doubt worthy of the speaker and the

occasion, as it had the true patriotic ring, and was in strong contrast to the public utterances of Sir Henry Camp-bell-Bannerman, which have no doubt cost the latter any chance he ever had of being selected to form the nest British Liberal Cabinet, "of which it is to be hoped Lord Rosebery will be the leader, as he has shown himself worthy and capable of so responsible a position.