The Portland daily press., 1898-11-10

determine upon the measures to blot OUT
anarchy. At the same time. ne was
bound TO say he had no great hope tnat
anything wonld abste "this monsVrons
affection of humanity"
After referring in o Mandatory m amer
to the British campaigns In lndla ana
the Soudan, the premier turned 10 the
Cretan question ami the concert 7
Europe. He said he was afraid that the
proceedings of the concert were not al
WAYS admired. at the same time, he
POINTED out, patient application com bined
with the moral strength of Europe mas
at izst succeeded in fulfilling the prom
Use given TO the Cretans OF giving them
autonomy cnder the suzeranity OF the
Sultan.
Continuing. the premier remarked !:
stTbe solution of this most difficult prob
lam has witnessed displays of splendid
and unexpeated qualities and diplomacy
upou the part of the admirals who had
successfully accomplished what the cabi-
ners of Europe had been unable to do. l
have sometimes thought that If the cabi-
nets were all dismissed and admirals were
Installed In their places. Europe would
get on better"
Turning to the crisis with France the
premier remarked: epe
"We have had quite recently to consider
whether the question OF aEEuropean war
was not very near But with great in
terest and consideration, the result turned
ont happily owing to the great Judgment
and common sense displayed by France
under circumstances of unusual dlfncul-
ties which, 1 think. have renewed Eu-
rope of a very dangerous anu threatening
storm. sf
siWbile matters were in suspense, the
government was necessarily forced to
take precautions that 1t should not De
taken uuawereS.
THESE precautions were most promrt
and effective; but the Immediate necessary
for them has passed on.
ssThere has been some surprise on botn
sides of the channel at the fact that those
preparations have not suddenly ceased.
but ii Is impossible to stop them at
moments notice.
Alter referring to the various runors
of intended action arising out OF these
preparations, including the seizure Of
Syria and Crete and the declaration OF a
protoctorate over Egypt-the latter allu-
sion being greeted with immense cheering
Lord Salisbury continues:
Il am sorry SO say cannot rise to the
height of the aspirations indicated by the
cheering of the audisnoe. do not ven
ture to prophecy, Il we are forced by
oil hers into position we do not now oc-
cuoy. what may OCCUR; but we are well
satisfied with the existing state OF
things and we do not think any cause
has arisen to necessitate effort on our
part at present to modify it,
1.-The position causes occasional friction,
bat taking the situation as o whole and
considering the feeling of other people
as we'll as our own, we can reasonable
rsst for the present with the existing
state of affairs. must not be under
ST ,od as meaning that Great Britain $
rositlon in Egypt is the same now as it
wa bsfore the fall of Ondurman, but
VI earnestly hope that circumstances will
not make it necessary materially to modi-
fly that position, as We ara convinced the
world would not then get on SO peace
bly, as now"
referring again to the war prepara-
tions and asking his hearers to look at
the state of the world, Lord Salisbury OBJ
served:
1.-The Gar has invited Congress to
provide for the disarmament OF the
world but while we offer our heartiest
tribute to his motives and are willing TO
assist and sympathize IN every way until
the happy day when his aspirations are
crowned wi tn success, we must still pro-
vide precautions needful to counteract
the dangers surrounding us. In some
respects this era, this great epoch in the
bi,tory of man, Is marked by happy
omens. 1t is the first year In which me
mighty force of the American republic
has been introduced among nations whose
dolninions are expanding and whose In
struments to certain extent are war.
II am not implying the slightest
blame. Far from 1T. l am not refusing
sympathy to the American republic In
the difficulties through which IL has
passed but no one can deny for 1t Is
apparent among factors Asiatto, at all
events and possibly in Europe, that 1t 1s
asgrave and serious event which may not
conduce to the interests OF peace. although
I think in any event it is likely to con-
duce to the interests of Great Britain.
Cheers
'"Rut what has impressed upon us is
that the subject matter of war is terribly
prevalent on all sides. We see nations
decaying whose government is so bad
that it can neither maintain the pow er
of sels.defence nor retain the affection of
its subjects; and when this occurs. there
are always neighbors impelled by some
motive-it may be the highest philan.
throphy. or it may be the natural desire
of empire--to contest as to who shall be
heir to the falling nation; and that is the
cause Of war
Lord Salisbury then alluded to the
rapidity and unexpectedness with which
wars break out and said:
ssIf Great Britain should ever permit
her sea defenses to weaken, the whole
empire would fall gathering to the
ground. 1t is therefore impossible in the
present state and temper of the world to
innermit our naval and military precau-
tions'
He concluded by repudiating: sss"Ali
suggestion that our preparations mean
thst the country is animated by the lust
of conquest or a love of war" declaring
that Great Britain was only resolved to
maintain the empire Britons have re-
ceived from their forefathers and to sup
port the peace which is the glory and
sustenance of our empire.
A great ovation from the entire assem-
bly, marked the conclusion of the pre-
mier's speech.
SALISBURY5 OMNIBUS WORDS.
HIS Alfusion to America Means Much or
Nothing.
London, November 10.-In commenting
on Lord Salisbury's speech at Guildhail
banquet, the Standard says:
s'There is a deliberate yagueness in
Lord Salisbury's language--a tendency
to hint rather than indicate unpalatable
truths-which is not re-assuring. !"
The Daily News also disagrees with his