Though the essence of Mr. Morley's speech was that the
Transvaal ought to grant a reform of the franchise, but must not be made to do so, he spoke,with considerable emphasis in favour of the five-years period. He entirely agreed with the Government in insisting upon a five years' franchise. The Transvaal, in his judgment, cannot withdraw from the five years' franchise. If he were the Transvaal Government he would not draw back from the five years' franchise. Yet it was not for him, said Mr. Morley, to give advice to men who, if things went wrong, would have to pay by having Dnm- Dam bullets sent into them. Surely Mr. Morley makes too much of bullets. They are terrible things no doubt, and the less likely one is to have to face them, the more careful one should be not to talk lightly about them, but we must not forget that the side which resolves never to fire is doomed to perpetual impotence. If Europe had told the Sultan that however badly the Turks behaved they would never be fired on the Turks would still be in Crete. Mr. Morley ended a speech which, though weak in argument, did immense credit to his pluck and good humour—it is not an easy thing to face so hostile an audience without losing one's temper—with the declaration, " You may send the price of Mr. Rhodes's Chartereds up to a point beyond the dreams of avarice, but even then it will be wrong." That was not a very fair jibe. Mr. Rhodes's Chartereds have nothing whatever to do with the redress of the grievances of the Outlanders.
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