Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1896-03-07
THEY FAVOR RARB|TRATI0N
Meeting at London Of People
With Peace Proposals.
MAS DISAPPOINTING IN S'Z
Letters From Gladstone, Baifour and
Others Showing Hearty Accord
With the Meeting.

.onuOll, MdfcD 3.-lAe Qem0nSlrd-
tions al Queens hall tonight in favor
OF permanent arbitration between the
United States nd Great Britain was
disappointing from the point Of view OF
numbers, the audience, which was not
large, being mostly women. Much en-
thusiasn was caused pending the ar
rival OF the speakers when the girls
who We're 10 sing in the choir trooped
upon the stage in patches, which were
ttrrayed alternately in sashes formed of
the union jack and OF the stars and
stripes, until a complete blending of the
ia6s OF the two countries was effected,
Intended to be in symbol of the har-
mony Which the projectors of the meet
ing are seeking to establish. When the
meeting opened the organ played
Hearts of Oak" Our Ships that
Sailed, "Columbia,'' and kindred airs.
The choir sang the well known patriots
ic air which is to some extent common
30 the two countries, one half of the
choir singing God Save the Queen, :"
and the other half My Country, 'Tis Of
Thee simultaneously, the audience
joining in the dual anthem.
Sir James Stansfeld presided over the
meeting, and he was supported by w
T. Stead, Lady Somerset, Rt Hon A
j. Mundcl. NJ p for Sheffield Professor
james Brice, Rt. Hon. George Shaw
Lefevre, Mrs. Hall Caine, Rev. Hugh
Price Hughes, the bishop of Rochester
and others.
Stead, after the opening Of the meet
ing, read letters Of sympa thy with its
purpose from a. j Baifour, first lord
of the treasury, Mr.. Gladstone. Rt Hon.
Henry Asquith, home secretary in the
liberal government, Mr.. Labouchere,
George Meredith the author, Henry
Norman and many others.
Balfour wrote: My sympathy with
the object Of the meeting has been more
than once expressed in public. and
hope need not emphasize it."
Gladstone wrote: "I am glad the dis
cussion Of arbitration is to be separated
from the Venezuela question, upon
which ! do not feel myself in final and
full possession of the facts that ] should
wish. Ny views ON arbitration in
place of war We're gathered from the
part | took in the matter Of the Alaba
ma claims. l will only add that my
conviction and sentiments on the sub
ject grow in strength from year to
year in proportion to the growth of the
monstrous and barbarous militarism
III regard to which I consider that I'm
gland hes to bear no small share OF "e-
spon2ibility."
Henry Norman said in his letter: The
Americans are practically unanimous
g .-,t,
overwhelming majority of the British
are the same. Only official conseryat-
ism blocks the way
Several letters We're read from Her
bert Spencer, Holman Hunt, Wilson
Barrett. the actor, William Watson, the
poet, Vscount Peel, eX-speaker Of the
house OF commons, Leonard Courtney
Alma Tadema, G. +. Watts, DR. Par
ker and several bishops.
The reading of these letters elected
vigorous cheers from the audience Sir
James Stansfeld, the chairman, In his
opening speech said that II it We're only
for the hearing Of the letters, the meet
ing would not have been IN vain. The
Venezuela question, he thought, was
blessing in Disguise because he be-
lieveti the result would be q treaty of
arbitration.
Shaw Lefeyre moved a resolution in
stiucting the chairman to sign a me-
mortal on behalf Of the meeting to Pres
ident Cleveland, the Marquis of Sails
bury and I3aIfour, urging that the time
was opportune to conclude treaty of
arbitratiOn He then made speech on
the history Of the Alabama case and
subsequent cases of arbitration, refer
ring to Americas vigor in negotiating
treaties containing arbitration clauses
He urged the arbitration Of the Nenez-
unIan question without any reservation
whatever.
The bishop of Rochester seconded
this motion and Lady Somerset sup
ported it with an impassioned denuncia-
ton of war between England and
America.
Hall Caine, Rev. Hugh Price Hughes
and others spoke on the resolution
which was carried by acclamation.
Mr. Mundell. in the course of his
speech, read a telegram of sympathy
and concord from America, He urged
the Importance Of grasping the hand
of fellowship thus extended. and he ad-
vocated the formation Of a great Anglo
American Association to promote the
movement and peTpetuate the prtnci-
Die by means Of q permanent standing
committee on both sides of the Allan
tic. This motion was carried unani-
mously. and the meeting ended with the
singing of the national anthem.