In the House of Commons on Wednesday a full-dress debate
on the war and the settlement took place over the Colonial Estimates. The chief attack on the Government was made by Mr. Sydney Buxton, Sir Wilfrid Lawson, and Sir Robert Reid. Sir Wilfrid Lawson, after protesting against the doctrine, "Our country, right or wrong," and denouncing the policy of the Prime Minister as "the policy of the freebooter, the filibuster, the burglar, and the Boxer,'" declared that "never again in our time could England boast of herself as the friend of freedom, the protector of the weak, the guardian of the oppressed,"—which was exactly what the majority of Vile population of the Transvaal would have said of us if we had told the Outlanders that they must not look to us for help. Mr. Elliot, who followed Sir Wilfrid Lawson, made a speech which we have no hesitation in saying was a model of what a speech in the House of Commons should be on a serious topic and a great occasion. We do not say this because Mr. Elliot takes our view, for he does not in many instances, but because of its just, moderate, and intensely patriotic tone. Mr. Elliot does not call men who differ from him as to our South African policy" burglars" or "freebooters," or say that they are bribed by capitalists, but argues the matter fairly. Mr. Elliot's main point has our warmest sympathy. It is that the prime duty of the Govern- ment is "to build up in South Africa a free and self-govern- ing community." We also agree with Mr. Elliot most heartily when he declares that to say that those who oppose annexation are enemies of their country is to talk nonsense.
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