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171,
The defeat of Majuba Hill had great emotive value for
Conservatives who felt that Britain had been pushed into a
defensive position in world affairs. At a conference of
Parliamentary Debating Societies in June 1ß8+y a Hastings
delegate declared in exasperation, "I need only mention the
incident, no dishonourable to the British flag, of lki juba
Hill* We all know rebels are allowed to tacbthe British
nation what is right and proper. We see there snatch from
our Bande all the power we have gained in centuries in that
part of the world... Wbon I was a boy it was said that for
every ono of an Eogliohman'a bairn that was hurt, a thousand
of the enemy should be taken. 11 (1)
Irritation at the timidity of the Government led
to an aggressive stand, denounced by the Liberalo an
jinEoiarn, and perfectly sümmed up in a Primrose Record
version of the sentiments of a Concervativo working man
"My vote coon to those who won't lot a growl or a ocrutch
frighten them into knuckling under to Sorc, ign nations, but
will stand to their Candi intaio the rights of Engliohmeu
all over the world and the honour of the Bri+ioh flag. "
(1) Debater,
(2) Primrose l_cord. Ist October 1885.
(2)