The Indianapolis journal., 1896-03-04
BRITISH ARBITRATIoNIsTs.
They Adopt Revolutions I'm Favor Of
n Permanent Treaty.

LONDON, March 3.-The demonstration at
Queens Hall tonight in favor of permanent
arbitration between the United States and
Great Britain was disappointing from the
point of view of numbers, the audience,
which was not large, being mostly made up
OF women. Much enthusiasm was occa-
stoned prior to the arrival of the speakers
for the evening, when the girls who were
to sing in the choir trooped on the stage
in patches, which were arrayed alternately
in sashes formed of the union jack and of
the stars and stripes, until a complete
blending Of the flags Of the two countries
was effected, intended to be symbolic Of the
international harmony which the promoters
of the meeting are seeking to establish.
Before the meeting opened the organ
played Hearts OF Oak "Our Ships that
Sailed" Columbia and kindred airs. The
choir also sang the well-known patriotic
air, which is to some extent common to
the two countries, one-half of the choir
singing the words God Save the Queen
and the other half MY Country, it's Of
Thee" simultaneously, the audience joining
in the dual anthem. Sir James Stansfeld
presided over the meeting and he was sup
ported by Mr.. w. L. Stead, Lady Henry
Somerset. Rt. Hon. A. j. Mundella, Rad
ical Member of Parliament for Sheffield,
Prof. James Bryce. Rt. Hon. Geo. Shaw Le-
fevere. Mr. Hall Caine, Rev. Hugh Price
Hughes, the Bishop of Rochester, and
others. Mr.. Stead, after the opening of the
meeting, read letters OF sympathy with it's
purpose from Mr.. A. ]. Baifour, First Lord
Of the Treasury: Mr.. Gladstone. Rt Hon.
Henry Asquith, Home Secretary in the
late Liberal government; Mr.. Labouchere,
George Meredith, Inc author; Mr.. Henry
Norman, who went to Washington on be-
half of the Chronicle at the time the Ven
ezuelan question was at its acute phase
and who wrote strongly from there in be-
half OF international arbitration and many
others.
Mr.. Baifour wrote: MY sympathy with
the object of the meeting has been more
than once expressed in public and / hope
i need not emphasize it. There are. no
doubt. questions that a nation could not
permit to be settled by any tribunal. But
this argument is not against arbitration,
but against its rash and unconsidered use.
Mr.. Gladstone wrote: Il am glad that the
discussion of arbitration Is TO be separated
from the Venezuelan question, on which
/ do not feel myself in final and full pos
session of the facts that / should wish My
views on arbitration in place of war were
gathered from the part took in the mat
ter of the Alabama claims. l will only add
that my conviction and sentiment on the
subject grow in strength from year to year
in proportion to the monstrous and bar
barous militarism, in regard to which /
consider that England has to bear no small
share of responsibility
The letter from George Meredith said:
'Since the benignant conclusion of the
greatest of civil wars. 1 have looked upon
the American people as the leaders of our
civilization. and. whatever may be said
among them, l am not alarmed by the
thought of their wantonly, willingly or
consentirgly taking a step to shatter it,
Mr.. Henry Norman said In his letter:
The Americans are practically unanin aus
for arbitration on all subjects. The over
whelmirg majority CT the British are the
same Only official conservatism blocks the
way. Is this the moment 10 pigeonhole In
the Foreign Office draft Of treaty OF ar
b.tration with the United States?"
Mr. Herbert Spencers letter i'm reply to
the invitation TO be present at the meeting
expressed regret that III health cofni'sl.d
him to shun all excitements. He proceeded
10 argue that wars In the past had welded
nations and had secured the predominance
and the spread OF the most powerful races.
while military discipline had habituated
wild men to bearing the restraints under
~nicls all social life Is carried on "deice-