The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-25
ANGLO-AMER|CAN
LOVE FEAST HELD
Thanksgiving Banquet
in London.
UNDER TWO NATIONS FLAGS
PRETTY SPEECHES MADE BY
THE ENGLISH GUESTS.
Sir Edwin Arnold and the Earl of
Harrisburg Tell How Uncle Sam
and John Bull Gould Defy
the World.
UNDER TWO NATIONS FLAGS
PRETTY SPEECHES MADE BY
THE ENGLISH GUESTS.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

LONDON, Nov. 24-The Thanksgiv-
ing banquet of the American Society in
London which was held at the Hotel
Cecil this evening, was for a glorifica-
ton of Anglo-American friendship
Three hundred Americans and their
English guests sat at a table under the
entwined flags of the two nations. Two
notable speeches were made, one by
Mr. Henry White, American Charge
Affaires, and the other by Sir Edwin
Arnold, who was supposed to be nearly
at the point of death from paralysis,
but who dragged himself to the banquet
hall aaginst the orders of his physicians.
leaning on the arm of his Japanese
wife, and supported by cane.
J. L. Taylor, president of the society,
proposed toasts to her Majesty, the
Queen. and to President Mckinley, and
Mr.. F. C. Van Dusen, the secretary,
read President McKinley's Thanksgiv-
ing proclamation. w. NJ. Osborne, the
American Consul General, in proposing
the health of the Charge d.Affaires, paid
a high tribute to Mr.. Whites long serv-
ices.
Mr.. White, responding to the toast,
Thanksgiving day." evoked enthu-
siastic cheers by reference to Colonel
Hay, formerly American ambassador
and now United States Secretary of
State, whose eloquence. he said, had
been the chief attraction of the gath
eringS of the society. Speaking of the
| first foreign war in fifty years which
Americans had been compelled to wage
in the interests of humanity and civil
iZatiOn," the Charge d'Affairs cOngrat-
ulated the nation that, as in a previous
contest, it had been guided by a Presi-
dent possessed of the wisdom and cour-
age to SurmOunt the difficulties of the
crisis. The war had proved that the
fire of patriotism burned as brightly in
the hearts of our citizens as it ever did,
and that sectional differences have dis
appeared. We have emerged from the
conflict a united people among the ma
tions of the earth, ready to assume the
responsibilities Unexpectedly thrust
upon US.
The speaker referred to the change
which had come over the feelings of
the two nations with respect to each
other, "as based upon no alliance at
present, nor, hope, to come, but upon
unity of feeling" 1t would be diff
cult, he said, to fOretell the cOnse-
Quences should the two countries ever
decide upon joining action in any part
of the world. 1t would be a combina-
ton difficult to defeat and tending to
the advancement of the human race.
The Earl of Halsbury, the Lord Chan
cellor, extolled Anglo-American friend
ship, which, he said was not vain tin
sci, but what the race believed was
duty to be done" These two nations,
he declared, had destroyed the ideas
that it was right for one man to make
another his property. The American
people, at the risk of tearing asunder
the great empire they had founded. had
determined that every man under the
stars and stripes should be free. The
two nations together might defy the
world. Their alliance might be an idea
and dream, but it was a noble idea
and splendid dream.
Sir Edwin Arnold concluded the
speech making with an address, the
manner of which was so eloquent that
it could not be reproduced. No man,
he said, could visit America and not
express the gratitude, attachment and
hopes that filed his heart He conclud-
ed:
Your guests salute you. Only one
who has known Holmes. Emerson,
Longfellow and Whitman can tell how
secretly and shyly Englishmen love
America