Ramsay MacDonald Quotes
There has been no crime committed by statesmen of this character without those statesman appealing to the nations' honour. We fought the Crimean War because of our honour. We rushed to South Africa because of out honour. The Right Hon. Gentleman (Sir Edward Grey) is appealing to us today because of our honour. What is the use of talking about coming to the aid of Belgium, when, as a matter of fact, you are engaging in a whole European War which is now going to leave the map of Europe in the position it is in now?
James Ramsay MacDonald, 1866-1937, British Prime Minister (Labor), Speech in the House of Commons, August 3, 1914
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
The only alternative is war or national dishonor; and between these two, what American can hesitate.
Canadian lumberjacks began operations on the Aroostook River area that was in dispute between Maine and Canada:
When he first came to Congress, there were major American problems with both France and England who were fighting each other and punishing America for not boycotting the other nation. Many argued for peace and living with the French and English impression of American seamen and confiscation of American Cargoes. Clay and others thought the appeasement price was too high and urged war. The War of 1812 followed.
Germany had demanded that Belgium allow German troops to cross Belgium to the French frontier. However, King Albert was concerned that this would be a de facto German occupation of Belgium and asked for help. The British tried diplomacy but things were out of anyone’s control and the First World War ensued.
1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon. The pace of change in the world has been accelerating ever since the enlightenment. Even at the beginning of the 20th century to was making politics difficult and be the end of the century the pace of change was many times faster.
The Boers had just a few years before lost their war with the British who were then in control of South Africa. However, the British did not treat the Boers harshly in defeat and most Boers were at the time farmers and land owners who were a major force in democratic South Africa and had much invested in the nation. Others were still resentful of the British. The Boers sided with the British and fought the Germans who had troops and colonies in Africa. Like the Irish, culturally, they were always up for a good fight.
This speech to over 100,000 people galvanized the Indian nationalists They had been asking the British to change the constitution to give India more independence. Churchill was opposed to any policy that would diminish the British Empire, but needed the Indians as men of India served in the British Army in every major theater of WWII. So instead of saying "No" Churchill held out the possibility but at a later time. He argued that it was inopportune to alter the Constitution in the midst of a world war.
The Dixie Chicks were a female country singing group that originated in Dallas, Texas. The right wing supporters of President Bush were incensed, and the conservative Talk Show hosts pilloried Maines and the singing group in general. Ironically many of the same conservative pundits who so castigated the Dixie Chicks for their anti-war and anti-president rhetoric several years later were themselves attacking Bush and his Iraq War with far greater intensity and reach than the one small singing group–The Dixie Chicks. This quotation also gives us insight into the Tea Party and ultra Conservatives who were vehement and totally committed to attacking their enemies but who, in a short period of time, could totally flip flop as to who their enemies were. They were quick to jump onto bandwagons, loud and vigorous while they were on, but also quick to jump off.
James Ramsay MacDonald FRS was the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who belonged to the Labour Party, leading minority Labour governments for nine months in 1924 and again between 1929–1931. From 1931 to 1935, he headed a National Government dominated by the Conservative Party and supported by only a few Labour members. MacDonald was expelled from the Labour Party as a result.
