Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-12-10
British BuncOmbe.

The Lord Mayors dinner is feast at
which various dignitaries, local and national,
restore their exhausted systems at the e1-
pense of the City Of London. 1t answers to the
corporation dinner Of some American towns.
The leading members Of the Cabinet are ex-
pected to attend and make speeches. The
premier generally responds for " Her Ma
jesty's Ministers - service for which Mr.
Gladstone is eminently qualified. The
speech of the premier is expected to ELL ex-
sctly three quarters of a column in the
Tunes The great British public looks at the
morning - Thunderer " to see that the pre-
scribed space is occupied, and then lays
down the paper without reading the speech.
The reason of this is that the First Lord Of
the Treasury never says anything fresh or
interesting on these occasions. The post
prandial orator who should give expression
TO an idea would be at once socially eycom-
municated, and condemned TO the humble
fare of his own lodging People do not 90
to public dinners to think, but to eat and
laugh. None but a barbarian would dis
turb the dead level of mensal medocrity
This is a fact which Mr. Gladstone well
understands. Therefore when he rises to
make his speech the listeners undou btedly
compose themselves for few minutes sweet
slumber. If the Premier had any wit he
might interest people who will not be in
structed. But he has no more sense of hu- /
NOR than a Scotchman. His speeches on
such occasions are insuferably tedious
In his regular response for the Ministers at /
the last Lord Mayors dinner, the Premier
fairly outdid himself Such string Of YER
bose platitudes we venture to say no public |
man of Mr. Gladstones ability ever dared
to impose upon an audience. He touches
upon the Irish question, and placidly Oh
serves, in substance, that some of the diff
cultiee which have attended British rule in
the Emerald Isle are yet unremoved, but that
it is the policy of statesmen to endeayor TO
attend to them as fast as i consistent with
honor, justice, and the welfare Of the whole
kingdom. What relief this information
must give to the oppressed and patient Irish
people How gratifying to those who are
anxious to learn the views of the Govern
ment on the land question 1t shoK how unin-
telligible a collection of words great
statesman and orator can make In foreign
relations the Premier intimates that the
Ministry will maintain policy cautious yet
bold, pacifcatOry yet independent, emphatic
yet not aggressive, jealous but not cold and
selfish. This is substantially the programme
which Mr.. Gladstone lays down for the Foreign
Secretary. 1t is not, as will be seen. a very
clearly defined policy. thought to suit men Of
all parties and of every shade of opinion
There is political as well as a diplomatic
advantage in leaving the details unpublished.
No one can criticise the administration for j
such an admirable general policy, whereas a
sketch OF any particular plan would invite !
premature censure. He who makes no c
promises breaks none
Upon the American question the Premier q
dwells at considerable length. His senti-
rnents If not valuable are highly, though I'M ;
amusing. He assumes the c
snicable character. He dwels upon the |,
virtues of Geo. Peabody, and asks, can we d
quarrel with the country Of Mr.. Peabody % t
This is Mr.. Gladstone's solution of the Ala
hama problem. Mr.. Peabody was an Amer i
lean who did England great service: ergo '
the Americans will not press the Alabama :
claims This reasoning has the merit of h
being ingenious and simple. If the other Fl
party to the controversy would accept it. the :
relations between Great Britain and the