The debate was continued on Wednesday by Mr. Philip Stanhope,
who moved an amendment expressing "strong disapproval" of the conduct of the negotiations "which have involved ns in hostilities with the two South African Re- publics." Sir William Harcourt's was, of course, the speech of the evening. He began by declaring that it was un- doubtedly the duty of the House to support the Executive Government in maintaining the integrity of the dominions of the Queen. But at the same time it was the duty of the Opposition to censure the policy of the Government when they believed that policy to be wrong. Sir William went on to criticise in detail the course of the nego- tiations. One of his points was that the suzerainty had been dropped in 1884. " Successive Secretaries of State have been under that impression." Upon this Mr. Chamberlain interrupted with a remark which inferred that the late Liberal Secretary for the Colonies had asserted the suzerainty. Sir William, after an onslaught on " the new diplomacy " and a condemnation of the ultimatum, most fervently refused to share any responsibility for the war. Though we do not agree with Sir William Harcourt's con- clusions, we gladly acknowledge the fairness and moderation of tone displayed in his speech. It was worthy of our Parliamentary traditions, and would prove, if proof were need, d, which it is not, that Sir William is, after his own lights, a sincerely patriotic statesman. Though it is the fashion to sneer, there is something in the Whig tradition after all.
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