Transcribed by Emily Smith. Geo. <Sound familiar?> The Northern News With Which Are Amalgamated The HALTWHISTLE and ALSTON NEWS and NORTH CUMBERLAND REFORMER No. 514 —Vol. XI. Saturday, January 6, 1900 ----- THE LONDON PRESS AND THE WAR. In his diary of the month, in the January issue of the "Nineteenth Century," Sir Wemyss REID had something to say about the recent resignations of the editors of the London "Daily Chronicle" and the London "Echo," which is worthy of attention, coming from so experienced a journalist. He writes of these resignations:—"This, surely, is very bad, not only for the public, but for the proprietors of the journals which have changed sides in this summary fashion. The British Press is nothing if it is not representative. We are not all Jingoes, nor are we all convinced that our diplomacy has been faultless, and our policy invariably sound in our dealings with President KRUGER and South African affairs. Yet, if we are to judge merely by the London Press as it exists today, we might easily come to the conclusion that there was absolute unanimity amongst us on these points. Heaven help not only the Press, but the country, if independence of opinion and honest frankness of expression should come to be treated as a crime punishable by expulsion from office." On the subject of the supposed unanimity of opinion respecting the war, Sir Wemyss REID makes these further comments:—"I have talked much to shrewd observers of the course of popular feeling as to the real opinion of the public on the subject of the war. I gather that everywhere, alike in town and in country, the overwhelming majority stands by the Executive in the struggle in which the nation is now engaged. But there is still a minority, not strong in numbers, but unquestionably strong in pertinacity and resolution, that looks upon the war with abhorrence, and that maintains just as stoutly as Mr. BRIGHT did in the Crimean days that it is a war that ought never have been begun." Sir Wemyss adds that this resolute minority, composed chiefly but not exclusively of Liberals and Radicals, maintains its opposition to the whole policy of the Government with a tenacity almost as remarkable as that which our soldiers displayed when they scaled the heights of Dundee, or refused to be denied in their dash upon the Boer position on the Modder. For the present the minority is powerless. But it will make itself heard in the not distant future, and the fortunes of one at least of the great political parties will be affected by the efforts it will make. -- Emily Smith