New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-27
ENGLAND'S MIGHTY FLEET.
A SUPERB SHOW AT SPITHEAD
THE IMPRESSIVE CLOSE OF THE JUBILEE
CELEBRATION.

IMPERIALISM sUPPLANTs ROYALTY AS THE
DOMINATING NOTE OF THE FEsTIvAr.-THE
LINE OF wARsHIPs IN THg CHANNEL
RECEPTION TO THE PRINCE OF WALES.
tnY TRIBUNE.l
Portsmouth, June 26-The most splendid week
OF rejoicing in English history when every loyal
heart has been keeping time to the music OF
God Save the Queen" closes at this historic
stronghold Of sea power with the majestic re-
frain Of britannia Rules the Waves" This
change Of scene from London to Spithead, with
the mghtiesi English fleet ever seen at anchor,
Is we'll contrived because 1t introduces afresh
what was meant to be the principal motive OF
the grand chorus Of national rejoicing. This Is
Imperialism. The presence of the Colonial
Premers and guards of honor from the ends of
the eartr was designed to be the most con-
spicuous feature of the Queens day, but the
Queen the commanding figure with
magnetic power The Premers attracted less at
tcntion than the retinue Of princes and special
ENJOYS and were minor figures In the stately
court Of honor
Royalty has dominated the remaining func-
tions of the week, but to-day Imperialism over
shadows even royalty in this magnificent
empire has been established and is guarded with
invincbe might Mr. Chamberlain supplied the
Colonial watchword early in the week, when he
proclaimed that the Crown the only link
between the mother country and her self-govern-
ing dependencies and subsequently he presided
over the first series of consultations with the
eleven Premiers by which practical measures
might be adopted for strengthening the rela-
befw plapd nd her Colonial
sions and mparting organic and possibly federal
unity to the empire. He is statesman Of crea-
tive genius. and he is ambitious and knows that
the chance Of his becoming Prime Minister hangs
upon the possibility Of taking advantage of ex-
listing conditions Of loyalty and good feeling to
do a great work If he succeed in bringing
the colonies and the mother State into closer
and more harmonious relations by means OF
Zolvcrein or system of dividing the burdens of
maintaining the fleet. or by representative I'M
perial council. the Jubilee will be an epoch max
Ing event Of the highest historical Importance.
PROBLEM OF GREAT DIFFICULTY.
No political problem Of such danger and com
pexity. beset with greater inherent diff
cultics, ever entered into the mind Of man. II Is
like the mathematical puzzle of squarng the
circle. The British Empire is not one world. but
a system Of worlds. each revolving in its own
orbit and in It's sphere Of material inter-
ests Not even Mr. Chamberlain with his practi-
cal instincts and lucid political intelligence can
have a reasonable expectation OF establishing
organic unity in the imperial milky way What
has been done this week with extraordinary sue
cess has been the stimulation OF British pride
even dangerously near to the point Of intoxica-
ton. The Queens procession, with fifty thou
sand soldiers under arms, and with the state
Hest cavacade of princes ever seen. was
pageant unrivalled in picturesque beauty and
imperial glory worthy Of the dignity and pres
tige Of the greatest capital Of the modern world
The court functions especially. the banquets, re-
ceptions parties at the palace and the gala
night at the opera were Of unprecedented
brilliancy. The royal guests and foreign ENJOYS
have been welcomed with stately splendor. The
entertainment Of the outcast poor by the Prln-
cess of Wales's fund has been royal In its gem
erosity and to-day in Spithead. apart from the
foreign ships and excursion craft there is fleet
Of warships with lines extending twenty-five
miles under the Union Jack
Englishmen have a right to be exhilarated by
such a gala week Only great and
powerful empire could have ordered so stu
pendous and brilliant fate. Here sentiment is
liko Napor III tnc PieseHce VI th' Hle'Hdhio'H
of the sea power to which England owes her
imperial supremacy. What is seen is the Chan
mel Squadron and the oast-defence fleet aug
mented by a few new ships and the torpedo
hotilla and twenty vessels OF war under foreign
flags; and the Admiralty officials assert with
complacency that this British armada could be
duplicated IN number of ships and fighting
value from the Mediterranean and other foreign
stations.
NO NATION COULD MATCH IT.
On. o..o, Z is l. fleet which other