The herald., 1897-03-28
The English Speaking Race

The following is an extract from the
address which Lord Salisbury delivered
at the recent dinner in London to Mr..
Bayard:
While wars and rumors Of wars are go
ing on, while the waves are troubled up
above, thereis silent process OF creation
going on which some day or other Will
show itself in great continents and nouns
tains While we are discussing and Dip
lomatizing, by the steady operation OF
natural causes and the superiority of the
English-speaking races, that language
Is becoming dominant in the world.
1t is spreading. not only in the United
States OF America and in England, but
over vast territories.in Asia. Africa and
Australia and think-think well-what
1t means, that all those distant races Of
the world should speak each others Ian
guage.
1t Is a great stumbling block and =
great opportunity. IT., they are we'll
guided, it means the rule OF good feeling,
Christianity and peace. If they are not
well guided, 1t means perpetual oppor-
tunity of taking offence at each others
words and actions, which adds infinitely
to the danger and difficulty OF their re-
lations with each other. The progress OF
the English-speaking races is the most
marvellous phenomenon of our time. It
means great machinery for the manu-
ldcluTt Ol tne puDllC OplilOH ludl 10 u
guide the world. AS in all times there
have been two forces that have contests
ed with each other the power Of govern
ing the society of men-the official. or
ganized government and the public opin-
ion, by which. more or less, that organ
lied government has always been con-
trolled and Influenced. But in our time
the organized government is distinctly
losing force and the public opinion is dis
timothy gaining in and thar
process goes on, more and more import
ant does 1t become that that public opin-
ion should be rightly guided.
Those whose voices are heard by the
English speaking nations have a tre-
mendous power and bear a terrible re-
sponsibilty. 1t is with them that the
real shaping of the future destinies Of the
world lies; and If look back with admi~
ration to the official life In this country
of the distinguished ambassador who
sits here tonight, it is not mainly
though it must ge greatly--for
his official distinction endl for the work
he has done in his,office: but in this coun-
try he has thrown himself with great
zeal and power and indefatigable effort
into the duty of presenting American
and English opinion to each other. and
moulding them In a common and a bles>
sed form. In that he appears tome
TO have deserved highly not only o4
this country and of his own. but OF Eng
disappearing races all over the world.
and not only that, but of the Engldsh@
speaking races the world that Is to be.
If there are no men to take up the torch
that ne hands down, If no effort IL made
to present the public opinion of the two
nations to each other, to enable them
to understand each other. and over
some temporary causes OF offence. 1t may
we'll be that all the power that ID given
to them will be given to them only for
their own destruction and the calamity
of the world. and all that force will b.
utilized in injurng each other; but IL
on the other hand, the high standordo
which he has held forth. the noble ee enti-
ments which he has Impressed, the un-
varying zeal for the public good which
he has uniformly displayed-if they can
impress themselves on the public opi1i0u
of our time, then the growth Of the Eng.
disappearing races and the vaet irlfi0-
ence which they exercise may we'll be ~
more powerful machinery than has 9x.<
listed yet for bringing to us the rei1@ 4l
justice and of peace. H8lf[