The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-07

branch in his hand, so to speak. He rep
resents peace society whose object is the
welding OF all the English-speaking peo-
pies into one colossal federation, which
shall have the world at its feet.
"This is bound to come sooner or later"
said Mr.. Birch, when questioned on the
subject yesterday. "The ultimate idea of
advanced politicians in England-and
Joseph Cham lain is foremost among
them-is to hand Canada and the British
West Indies over to the United States, and
give local self-government to Scotland,
Ireland, Wales and Cape Colony.
New Zealand and Australia have home
rule alre ady. All these countries would
be united IN a federation for peace pur-
poses. Of course Cham berlain has not
come out openly and declared for this yet.
He would raise storm of indignation if
he did, because he is considered to be an
imperialist, but he is educating the people
up to these IDEAS"
Pastor Birch says that as Chamberlain
is married to an American lady he has a
greater feeling of sympathy for the United
States than other British statesmen and
that he will gradually educate the people
up to throwing Canada and the British
West Indies into the balance in favor of
peace and arbitration.
Mr.. Birch was O well-kEown orator at
home, in England. He held forth in the
Free Trade Hail, Manchester, every Sun
day 10 thousands OF people, and he dropped
the remark yesterday that when he was
setting forth to come to America Joseph
Chamberlain had wanted him to find out
how the land lay and smooth the way as
far as possible.
Gladstone, Salisbury and all the other
great English statesmen, both Liberal and
Conservative, are in favor of a board of
arbitration to cooperate with a similar
committee appointed by the United States.
This committee would settle all interna-
tional questions by arbitration. And as
the English-speaking people possess much
of the purse and the brain of the world
other nations would have to harken to
their voice and the cause of righteousness
would triumph"
1t seems that though the Conservatives
and the bulk of the Liberal Unionists are
in favor of the appointment of a board of
arbitration they have not yet been edu-
Gated up to the local self-goyernment
scheme and the handling of British North
America but Rev. Mr.. Birch says Cham
berlain will educate them up to it in time.
There is one thing, however, which never
occurred to the progressive member for
Birmingham, but witch Pastor Birch has
found out since coming to the United
States, and that is the impoSslblllty of
achieving anything till Ireland has home
rule.
1.-THE British Government is willing to
appoint the peace committee; it is the
United States that is hanging back" said
the pastor. "Since coming to this country
l see how it is. America is greater Ire
land; neither the Republicans nor the
Democrats can do anything that would
forfeit them the Irish vote, and that vote
could never be cast for grand federation
for peace purposes with England till Ire
land is free and untrammeled. The advo-
Gates of peace, therefore, must work for
the liberation of Ireland"
1t is Mr.. Birch's opinion that the
Orangemen would have no objection to
home rule when they once realized the
grand, far-reaching effects OF a great
peace federation.
cit would be the most colossal power
evolved from mankind, and, being evolved
from desire for righteousness it would
be practically God power" said Mr..
Birch enthusiastically.
Pastor Birch came to California by way
of Australia and New Zealand. In the
latter country he was pastor for two years
of the Auckland Tabernacle, and both in
Auckland and Christchurch he was
prominently connected with philanthropic
movements.