The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-21

to the vast extent of her dominion, %
to tho character OF her government and
OF her subjects, (c) and to some OF the
forces that have contributed to the great
ness and glory of her empire.
An Englishman does not make an Idle
boast when he says that the sun never
sets on the queens dominions. While
the British Isles are the seat OF supreme
authority for all the British possessions,
they constitute but very small part of
the British dominlons. Before we can
realize the extent Of the British empire
we must think OF the sway that England
exercises In Asia, and in Africa, and In
Australia, and In New Zealand. and in
Canada, and In the West Indies, and in
many of the island of the sea, There Is
true sense in which one may say that
the dominions of Queen Victoria extend
from sea to sea, and from the River
Thames to tho ends of the earth. Take
India alone. Its area Is l,22S,S00 square
miles, and Its population is 20O.OO0,0OO. We
can form some idea of the extent OF the
British empire II we will bear In mind
that one-sixth of all the land on the
carth's surface and one-fifth of the earth's
population are under British rule. And
when to Nhis is added the fact, that Eng
land covers all seas with her ships, and
that her navy can with good reason sing
Britannia rules the Waves" our concep-
tion of England's power is enlarged.
THEIR GOVERNMENT.
AS to the form of government In which
Eng,ishmeu take great pride, we may
criticize It, but 1t has lasted thousand
years, and IL never was so strong or SO
worthy of praise as 1t is today. 1t Is u
stabe government, and 1t Is a Christian
government, and 1t has won, and 1t de-
serves the confidence and the respect of
the world.
The forces that have contributed to the
greatness and to the glory of ENGLAND are
manifold "rho march of intellect"
scientific discoveries and applied me-
chanics; the railroad, the telegraph, the
steamboat, the multiplication OF labor
saving machines, war, commerce-all
these have contributed to Englands
glory.
But before all these, let us place British
morality, and at the base of British NOR
ality, let us put the English Bible and
our holy Christianity. This is the true
secret OF England's greatness. 1t is Bible
truth that has moulded the intellect and
the conscience of the British Isles
But IL this be true, II surely follows that
the greatness and glory Of England are
due to the great Reformation of the six
teenth century. The British reformers
fought and suffered and died to preserve
for the English people this great boon
a free and open Bible.
The queen of England has done her part,
both by precept and by example, to pro-
pagate the truths of Christianity. She
has been guided by Bible principles from
the day of her coronation until this hour.
Hence this nation joins with England in
the prayer, "God Save the Queen" May
the bonds that bind together these two
nations-the bonds of a common ances-
try, and a common brotherhood. the bond
of a common language, the bond of a
common Bible and common faith-may
these bonds grow stronger and strongerf
and draw these nations closer and closer
together; and there must be rivalry be-
tween them, let It be a rivalry as to
which nation can do the most to promote
human liberty and human virtue; or a
still hoiier rivalry as to which nation
can do the most to save the lost and TO
extend the boundaries of the Redeemer's
kingdom.