I wish to complain very respectfully,but most urgently,that the Army Estimates involved by the scheme lately explained by the Secretary of State for War are much too high,and ought to be reduced,if not this year,certainly at the conclusion of the South African campaingn.I regard it as a grave mistake in Imperial policy to spend thirty millions a year on the Army expenditure cannot be viewed by supporters of the Government without the greatest alarm and apprehension,and by Members who represent working class constituencies without exreme dislike.
  I desire to urge considerations of economy on His Majesty's Government ,and as practical step that the number of soldiers which they propose to keep ready for expeditionary purposes should be substantially reduced.First of all I exclude altogether from this discussion the cost of the South African War.Once you are so unfortunate as to be drawn into war,no price is too great to pay for an early and victorious peace.All economy of soldiers or supplies is the worst extravagance in war.I am concerned only with the Estimates for the ordinary service of the year,which are increasing at such a rate that it is impossible to view them without alarm.Does the House realise what British expenditure on armaments amounts to? See how our Army Estimates have grown-seventeen millions in 1894,eighteen in 1897,nineteen in 1899,twnety-four in 1900,and finally in the present year no less than twenty-nine millions eight hundred thousand.....
   If I might be allowed to revive a half-forgotten episode-it is half-forgotten because it has passed into that period of twilight which intervenes between the bright glare of newspaper controversy and the calm rays of the lamp of history-I would recall that once upon a time a Conservative and Unionist Administration came into power supported by a large majority,nearly as powerful,and much more cohesive,than that which now supports His Majesty's Government,and when the time came round to consider the Estimates the usual struggle took place between the grat spending Departments and the Treasury.I say 'usual';at least it used to be so,I do not know whether it is so now.The Government of the day threw their weight on the side of the great spedning Departments,and the Chancellor of the Exchequer went down for ever,and with him,as it now seems,there fell also the cause of retrenchment and conomy,so that the very memory thereof seems to have perished....Wise words ,Sir,stand the test of time,and I am very glad the House has allowed me ,after an interval of fifteen years, to lift again the tattered flag of retrenchment and economy....
  I stand here to please the cause of economy.I think it is about time that a voice was heard from this side of the House pleading that unpopular cause;that someone not on the bench opposite,but conservative by tradition,whose fortunes are linked indissolubly to the Tory party,who knows something of majesty and power of the Britian beyond the seas,upon whom rest no taint of cosmopolitansim,should stand forward and say what he can to protest against the policy of daily increasing the public burden,If such a one is to stand foward in such a cause,I say it humbly,and with I hope becoming pride,no one has a better right than I have for this is a cause I have inherited,and a cause for which the late lord Randlph Churchill made the greatest sacrifice of any minister of morden times...
The Empire which has grown up around these Islands is essentially commerical and marine.The whole course of our history,the geography of the country,all the evidences of the present situation,proclaim beyond a doubt that our power and prosperity alike and together depend on the economic command of markets and the naval command of sea;and from highest sentimental reason,not less than from the most ordinary practical considerations ,we must avoid a servile  imitation of the clanking military Empires of the European continent ,by which we cannot obtain the military predominance and security which is desired,but only impaire and vitiate the natural sources of our strength and vigour.There is a higher reason still.There is a mortal force--the Divine foundation of the earthly power-which,as the human race advances will more and more strenghten and protect those who enjoy it,which would have protected the Boers better than all their cannon and brave Commandos if ,instead of being ignorant,aggressive,and corrupt,they had enjoyed that high moral reputation which protected us in the dark days from the European interference--for,in spite of the calumny and lie uttered and printed,the truth comes to the top,and it is known alike by peoples and by rulers that on the whole British influence is heathy and kindly,and makes for the general happiness and welfare of mankind,And we shall make a fatal bargain if we allow the moral force which this country has so long exerted to become diminished ,or perhaps even destoryed  for the sake of the costly,trumpery,dangerous military playthings on which the secretary of state for war has set his heart.