New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-19
AMERICA AND ENGLAND.
SPEECH OF WHITELAW REID, SPECIAL
AMBASSADOR, AT THE AMERICAN
DINNER IN LONDON. JULY 3, 1897.

Your reference 10 the Special Ambassador 10
most kind. and 1 thank yon But we are IN
sad mood. as you know. at the Special Embassy,
and nothing but sense Of duty could have
brought me, even on the Fourth OF July ana
among Americans In London. To n banquet in
the evening after following to the grave IN the
morning the sole child Of one Of my associates.
The brave Admirals splendid warsblp bore for
him armOr against fate; and recalling tue
proud pageant in which he has just been 30
worthy representing our Nation. we can only
utter again the exclamation Of Edmund Burke
over another suddenly yawning grave. What
shadows we are. and what shadows we pursue.
Let me venture to add what know VIII touch
every American heart. here and AZ home, that
Admiral Miller has this evening received gra-
cious message OF tender. womanly sympathy
from Her Majesty the Queen
1t is an Interesting coincidence that we pass
Immediately and not unnsturally. even in Lon
don. from the celebration Of the Queens Jubilee
to the celebration Of the Fourth OF July. The
one supplements and completes the other the
two together round ont the record. warrant the
recognition the world h. extending to the prog
rcss of the Anglo-Saxon race. AMI emphasize
the blessings its amazing advances have be-
slowed upon mankind.
Quite possibly, II the wise and good Queen
had been in her grandfather's place. or II the
Queens son had been there. things might have
been different. But ii il far better as II IL. The
colossal development of the Republic would
have been possible no colonial lines the world
had then ever seen. Its benefits have been re-
iected back upon the mother land. and under
the improved policy that resulted. are distinctly
traceable in the superb growth and affectonate
loyalty of the vast British Empire OF to-day.
We have been therefore. and we have had
the right to be- proud OF the Jubilee-almost as
proud as they are themselves: and as proud or
the wonderful history that made II possible.
We can have no jealousy Of their greatness,
their power, their worldwide renown. II II IL
not ours. it belongs 10 the family. They carry
elsewhere what they gave us-the same civiza-
ton. the same reverence for law the same
Anglo-SaxOn love for order and justice and lib
ery: and they can take no right and lawful
step 10 spread these blessings which shall
not applaud.
But let me not be misunderstood. The MIL
lennium has not quite dawned The American
has not abandoned the traits of his race any
more than the Englishman. We are to-day the
most peaceful great nation on the globe. and
there was never period in our history when
there was less popular desire for territorial az.
grIndiZement. But we are AnglO-Sayon still.
1t follows. Of course. that orr clear rights with
in the legitimate sphere of our Influence will he
jealousy guarded: and that the consent of no
other nation 10 exercise Of tGem VIII be
held essential
During the last week nothing has been more
interesting than the evident English welcome.
to American sympathy. or the occasional re-
mark, Your people don't like us as we'll rs we
wish they did; why is it, Well. perhaps there
is sometimes some warrant for saying that
Sir Wilfrid Laurier talked very frankly on the
subject the other night: and while not wholly
accepting his point of view. need add nothing
to the explanations he gave. II is idle to ignore
the fact that from time to time serious differ
ences have arisen 1t is equally idle To imagine
that either nation will fail 10 maintain what II
thinks right. He is no friend 10 either who as
serts or hints it. But never forget our re-
lationshp. We may have family jars In the
future rs in the past. God forbid ii: and God
grant that if they do come. we may show that
we are at last. on both sides of tn" water, civil
lied enough and Christian enough to settle them
without fighting with our own blood.
our people may perhaps be sometimes Sens
tive. and sometimes bitter. Possibly those
traits Of the ace survive yet In England also
But ii is not best to attach too much Importance
TO superficial indications. You do not judge A
noble river entirely by the drift and edlieS on
the surface. Below the strong. steady current
Is sweeping on. unmOved by surface commo-
lions.
DO not forget that ont of the three serious
wars of our National existence two have been
with England while in the third. Englands At
titude was nj least open TO the Interpretation
Sir Wilfrld Laurier placed upon ii. Yet. such
is the real temper Of the American people. that,
when this last war ended In complete surrender,
not one human life sacrificed in punish
ment. nor We're even political disabilities main
tanned How easily any lingering bitterness
over the first war. or any of them. may he swept
away has been often seen. Surely Englishmen
cannot have forgotten Commodore Tatnall. who
saw English sailors entrapped and slaughtered
in an Asatc sea. and without any possible war
rant rushed TO the rescue with the sole excuse
- can't stand that: blood is thicker than
water No more can Commodore Pearson be
forgotten. who, under somewhat similar crcun-
stances did a similar thing And surely Eng
lish sailors. riding safely on the receding wave
out of the terrors of Samoa. can never cease 10
hear the cheers. cyutins in their escape that
burst from the thrOa.s of American sailors about
to die
That is the genuine American feeling when
stirred to It's depths. that the feeling which now
warrants Whittcrs prophecy of the time:
When closer strand shall lean to strand.
While meet beneath sautlnR flags.
The eagle Of our mountain crags,
The lion of our motherand.
That is the feeling that led the Chief Magls
trate Of our country 10 send me here accom-
panied by an Admiral on his flagship and by
the General of our Army. TO bear from him .
letter to Her Royal and Imperial Majesty.
II was that which gave me warrant, on be-
half of the President and people Of the Repnb-
lic to preSen! personally their respectful con-
CALCULATIONS and most earnest good wishes TO
the Sovereign not merely of longest reign ana
widest sway. hut In their judgment Of most
beneiicent influence and best beloved in the
whole long history of the English monarchy and
the AnglO-Say0n race.
The President especially wished Tier Majesty
10 believe thar nothing can ever permit the Gov
eminent or the people Of the n!ted states 10
forget that NJ n critical period in their history
the preservation OF peace between me TWO H'-
lions was. as they think. largely due To me
gracious influence exerted by the Queen win
the aid Of the lamented Prince Consort we
may well hope that the memory OF that ACT
was not the least pleasant of the throngins
recollections that added 10 the JOY OF this "n'
parallelpd anniversary.
Whatever the passing feeling or the momeht
toward England there has never ben time