After denouncing the Government for snatching an election in the
autumn of last year, and declaring that it was a mon- strous in'sult to the nation to say that there was no alterna. tire to the present Government possible—" Sir, in all my lifer from all- the bitterest foes of Great Britain, and God knows we have enough, I have never heard such disparagement of her as that doctrine contains "—Lord •Rosebery went on to deal with the abuse that had been levelled against our .Army. "When I hear the Army spoken of as mercenaries and held up to execration for their barbarous methods I feel very strongly. I equally acquit the Government or any one of British birth of barbarity in this matter." Next he took up the question Of a final settlement. We ought not to approach the Boers and offer them terms, but we should let them know that if they suggested terms we would give them the most favourable consideration. They should, in fact, be still allowed the terms they rejected last March, and the pro. claanation punishing th- leaders with exile should be with- drawn. There must not, however, be a withdrawal of Lord Milner, though Lord Rosebery strongly condemned his state- ment at Durban that the war would have no formal end. To change Lord Milner now would be held throughout South Africa as a lowering of the flag. Mr. Chamberlain, again, could not be superseded on the demand of a beaten foe.
