The ultimate concession of self-government, the Duke de- clared, had
been made perfectly clear to every one, but every- thing turned upon the interpretation of the words "at the earliest possible moment." The Government would be false to the trust committed to them if until the time arrived when the concession could be safely made they were to allow a state of things which could render possible a further recru- descence of hostilities or rebellion. "Of the time when it arrives it is we, the victors, and not the Boers, who can alone be the proper judges." The Duke of Devonshire ended an excehent speech by citing the example of General Lee, and asking whether, if he had yielded to persuasion, and decided, after being beaten in the field, to resort to guerilla warfare, Grant and his Government would have thought that was the moment to reopen negotiations or offer the terms which they had declined to offer when the Confederates had an organised force in the field.
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