New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
LEAGUE AND OPEN DOOR.
,,rsENTATIVE MEETING AT STAT
FORD HOUSE-CAUTION REQUl-
SITE ALL AROUND.

,,on II any proof were needed. or the Hlehd'y
,o,,,g of the classes toward the United states
:, vas held in the finest private house in Lon
.or where the walls were adorned with precious
,,orss Of art by old masters. Stafford House
t,r. .or the second son of George H. and
gas subsequently sold to the Duke 4 Suther-
land Its present master Is one OF the great
,o,doyners Of the United Kingdom. being the
nossessor Of $4,000 acres and the Sutherland
Iaveson- Covers have played great part in
english history since the opening of the thir-
,aen,h century The house itself has many
roble traditions Of sympathy with liberal causes
and hospitality to prominent foreigners II was
., stafford House that Garibaldi was received
with coraial.ty and distinction IN 1864 and one
=, ,,s most cherished memorials is a marble
,shIet set up in Of the galleries by Italian
.os,aents in cOmmemoration Of his visit. 1t
mo. an ideal meeting place Of the AnglO-Ameri-
-, Committee in the heart Of aristocratic Lon
An whore a generation ago the classes were
,,..a-lv hostile to the Union and the anti-slavery
movement.
Tho Duke Of Sutherland who presided over
Ate nrel,minary meeting Of organization and
hosa name headed the list OF the Executive
committee Is In middle life, having succeeded
o. the ducal title six years ago. He Is a quiet
but digniAed and effective speaker. and Is
man Of affairs in the hes; sense. with sobriety
=, Judgment and business capacity. In his BRIEF
s,sech he separated the Anglo-American move
,oant from the issues OF current politics and
clearly defined the primary object OF the organ
,7a,ion in the simple words: ITO give express
sion 70 feelings OF cordially and essential unity
between the peoples Of Great Britain ana
America which l believe 10 be reciprocated IN
the United States" This note was sounded by
a leader Of the titled class. and It was repeated
by Earl Gray the Earl OF Jersey. Lord Tenny-
SON. Lord Farrer. Lord Shaftesoury' Loro
Thring Lord Rrassey. Lord Coleridge. Lord
Monkswen Lord Charles Beresford ana other
peers who were present. as well as by LORDS
temporal and spiritual. who sent letters OF re-
eret including the Dukes Of Westminster ana
Fife the Marquses of Ripon. Breadaloane ana
NORTHAMPTON. Earls Spencer. Northbrook and
Meath Vlscounts WOlseley and Halifax maI/
other lords baronets and knights without num-
tsr three archbishops. nine bishops and car
6inal Vaughan. Whatever might nave been the
attitude Of the classes toward America during
the Civil War. there was neither equivocatlon
nor reserve in their expression Of friendship and
goodwill at this gathering in Stafford House.
Indeed the classes were 80 conspicuous IN
this assemblage that one or two voices were
mittee Of twenty-four SO as to make 1t more
representative body. The criticism was heard
that the working masses Of the nation had been
sighted and that literature was not repre-
scented These structures were not well founded.
for Thomas Burt NJ p was named for the
Executive Committee and he was the son Of a
miner and was himself a characteristic repre-
sentative OF the English working people; and as
for literature Mr.. James Bryce. Sir Walter
Besant Sir Martin Dicey and Professor A. V.
Dcey were fully entitled to stand for IT, The
committee. with its duke. three earls. eight
members Of Parliament and n dozen representa-
tives Of literature. science law and other
learned professions had been carefully made up.
and was an excellent body OF public-spirited.
well-informed men There was no woman IN
the Executive Committee. but Mrs. Jacob Bright
and Mrs Fisher Irwin. the daughter Of Richard
Golden were present at Stafford House as
members Of the General Committee. Indeed,
the gathering Of 12j was Representative Of all
tae forces Of public opinion in England. The
Governor Of the Bank Of England. Sir John
Lubbock Dean Hole. Mr. Anthony Hope Haw-
kns Mrs W T. Stead Mr.. Rider Haggard'
Mr.. Zangwill Mr.. Thomas II. lsmay and many
other representative men were In attendance 10
assist in the permanent organization or league
whose function was to be systematic promotion
OF good relations between England and America
Lord Farrer's anxiety as a Free Trade dog
matist found expression at this meeting in
Stafford House He is heartily IN favor Of good
feeling and the closest possible relations be-
tween England and America, hut he considers
It necessary for Engshmen to be prudent as
well as enthusiastic respecting Anglo American
policy He laid much stress at this meeting
upon the principle Of the open door and APP
parently required assurances respecting Ameri-
can colonial and commercial policy In the ne"
career Of expansion upon which the United
States Government is entering Lord Farrer IS
Cobdenlte Il the old school and whenever
chorus o. Hear, Hear. follows one OF his
sententious passages It may be safely assumed
that Free Trade principles are considered 10 be
in danger. and that Englshmen have need 70
be cautious and prudent. as well as friendly IN
their advances TO a rival commercial Power.
do not think that he had any idea Of throwing
cold water upon the cause Of Anglo-American
unity. He was merely thinking aloud. and re-
mnding mis- associates that "the open door
was principle which the people Of England
considered of the first importance and that the
Americans had not yet committed themselves
70 II In their projects for territorial expansion
The phrase the open door served as II"
epitome OF both English and American poIicy
IN the Far East early in the year. when Ter
many and Russia were planning their TERRI
toria raids in China. 1t implied that ports
opened 10 one Power must be free to all nat'hs'
ana that there could be nothing IKE cofnfherc'dI
monopoly. The concessions when Enelaho hau
obtained from China were shared with America
and all maritime Powers. England has been
VT Russia
this policy in the Far Fast; and II the FhlHp-
pines are permanent, occupied by the united
States she homes TINT there will be no DISPOSE
ton 10 discriminate btwecn flags, but that the
door will be kept opel, II the door he closed
there viii be great disappointment in England
Lord Farrer simply expressed thought that is
In ever,, Lc,nlish..n... whom the future OF