The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-15
SUNDAY. MAY i. 1898.
MIR. CnAMnERLAIN,s spEECH.

The speech made az Birmingham, Eng
land, on Friday last by the Hon. Joseph
Chamberlain, Secretary OF State for the
Colonies in the Marquis Of salsbury's
government. is one of the notable Incl
dents Of the century row closing. His
words were so notable that. although we
printed them yesterday, we reprint them
to-day. Referring 20 the policy Of strict
isolation that England has pursued since
,he Crmean war lie said that this has
been perfectly justihable But" he add
ed. "the time has arrived when Great
Britain may be confronted by q combine
lion OF Powers. and our first duty. there
FORE lis 10 draw an parts of the empire
into close unity. and our next 10 maintain
the bonds of permanent unity with our
kinsmen across the Atlantic. cloud
cheers).
There SIS a powerful and generous ma
ton" said Mr. Chamberlain. speaking
our language. bred Of our race and hav-
ing Interests identical with ours. l would
20 80 far as TO say that. terrible as war
may be, even war Itself would be cheaply
purchased II. I'm a great and noble cause,
tho Stars and Stripes and the Union Jack
tANulu wave lNEtAutl VNtA an Ahblp-
Saxon alliance. prolonged cheers.
1T IS one of the most satisfactory re-
suits OF Lord salisbury's policy that at
the present time these two great nations
understand each other better than they
have ever done since. over "a century ago.
they were separated by the bluuder Of
British government"
Mr.. Chamberlain speaks with little n
any less authority than Lord Salisbury
himself Indeed, II Lord Salisbury should
retire from his place of Prime Minister
IL is quite possible that Alr. Chamberlain
would be his successor as tho practical
ruler OF England. So that we may take
these utterances Of Mr.. Chamberlain as
practically the views OF the government
of Great Britain. We may feel assured,
therefore, that 81 this wretched Spanish
war does In fact complicate us with the
other autocratic Powers Of Europe we
shall not have 10 fight our battle alone.
II they attempt 10 double tn US and
crush us we may feel perfectly assured
that England Is coming 70 our assistance,
for her far-seelng statesmen see what
The Times has been pointing out, as oc-
casion offered, for three or four years.
that the real struggle OF the future is
between democracy and autocracy, and
in that struggle-when II ever It does oe-
cur-England and the United States are
natural allies. since both are free coun-
tries and each must fight 10 maintain
freedom in the other
Mr.. Chamberlain was right. Heaven be
praised, when he said that Lord Sails
bury's government has brought about a
better understanding between England
and America than has existed since they
were separated more than a hundred
years ago. And II Lord Salisbury had
never done anything else at all, his con-
duct Of the relations between the two
countries since his present administration
began would be sufficient 10 mark him as
one OF the greatest statesmen England
has ever had.
when Mr. Cleveland sent IN 70
Congress his Venezuelan message
that. added 70 the naughty tone
OF MFs OlNtN NlalotNAN'' NC~tN
inevitably have produced a breach
between the two countries II q man less
well balanced than the Marquis OF Sails
bury Is had been at the head Of affairs
IN England. But Il is truly refreshing and
delightful 10 read Lord Sallsbury's dis
patches during that critical stage in our
affairs. with the wisdom Of a real states
man he utterly ignores Mr. Cleye-
lands unfrlendly tone and, con-
fning himself in polite language
at every stage OF the case to the actual
issues al hand. he gradually eliminates
from the discussion all heat and temper
and brings II down 20 the most matter
of-fact consideration OF practical sug-
gesilons pro and con until an agreement
* reached which settles the trouble and
removes all possibility OF danger lie
made all right thinking Americans asham-
ed OF themselves when ne stesred both
countries 50 happily through the waters
OF a false position that our country had
been placed in. and he sid service 20
mankind in moving out OF the way this
obstacles 20 cordial relations between the
two peoples.
We are compelled to admit that we DO
not feel sure that we shall not yet want
Ene1apA's friendly aid before we are