[37] 194 votes as against 196 in 1892, when he defeated Sir John Puleston, the popular Tory champion.
[38] October 1894.
[39] These details are based on contemporary impressions and verified from Hansard.
[40] At a Welsh Party meeting on May 19th, 1899, an “independence” resolution moved by Mr. Lloyd George was definitely shelved.
CHAPTER IX
SOUTH AFRICA
“God defend the right!”
When the South African War broke out in early October, 1899, Mr. Lloyd George was touring in Western Canada. The mutterings of the coming storm had already reached him in the distant regions of the Rocky Mountains, and that swift political instinct of his had warned him of grave events. He turned in his tracks, abandoned his holiday, and made for home.[[41]] While crossing the Atlantic he had abundant time to meditate on the great issue between the South African Republics and the British Empire.
By the time he arrived in England he had already a very strong impression that a great wrong was being perpetrated. But before uttering any decisive word in public he made a very careful study of the many State Papers which set forth the case on either side in that momentous strife, especially the minutes of the negotiations between President Kruger and Lord Milner at Bloemfontein. For it has always been the habit of Mr. Lloyd George to study his documents in politics with fully as much care as a good judge preparing for the courts.