The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-23


not any longer presume to stand out
stubbornly. persistently, and to the point
of conflict with the popular Will as ex-
pressed by the House of MOI
only is the Prime Minister, or head OF the
administration, generally a Commoner,
but ever when not, the majority OF the
Cabine is taken from the House, as II
is specifically called.
ence in this matter between the present
and the last century than by placing
before you the imposing figure OF Ed
mund Burke, a man who, more even IMAM
Pitt, deserved to be called the Great Com
moner. 1t is not too much to say that
in all those qualities that go to make
up a Grand Old Man, he was the Glad
stone of his time-a man OF the highest
intellectual powers, a man of the keenest
political insight, a man In whom SYM
pathy for suffering and hatred OF MUS
tice and tyranny amounted to a passion
a mar who, at the trial OF Warren Hast
ings, the oppressor of India, showed him
self Gas Macaulay saysl, in amplitude of
comprehension and richness OF magma
ton, superior to every orator, ancient or
modern but he was a man of humble
origin, a man who carried no letters OF
gentility from the Herald's office, who
bore no credentials signed by Garter-king-
alarms, a man who could get elected to
the House only on condition Of finding a
patron, and as a noblemans nominee ne
was returned to parliament TOT
Wendover, in Buckinghamshire,, a Dor
JUS II lis 10 A@Cia
quently, however superior his talents,
however important his services, however
necessary, to his party-and that the wing
stantly refused that official recognition OF
leadership, the Prime Ministry of eng
land. to which both friends and enemies
fitted by his talents and his virtues: Such
an instance of prejudice of birth and
power of the dristocracy would not now
be possible.
"Who doubts but if Burke had lived in
our day, he would have been Prime Min
lister as often as his party came INTO
power? I believe that this breaking down
of social barriers, this leSsenlng OF the
gulf between the classes and the masses,
this determination of the people to mend
or end the hereditary peerage and the
power of caste, is largely due to the re-
turning influences of the American Revo-
luton on English liberty.
Il believe that the good sense of Eng
lishmen, their spirit of justice, their wis
dom acquired by experience of the re-
| volted colonies, V brought these vast
changes and improvements in their SPLEEN
did Temple of Liberty. Englishmen may
be persuaded, they may be moved by
| forced, even to better their own Acondi-
| tons. There is al admirable solidity in
the English character. There is also a
~frankness and a moral courage in Eng
lish nature. When Englishmen are once
convinced that a system which has been
pursued is wrong, they are willing to
change it at whatever cost of
| cherished customs and traditions
and national pride. They have
long ago acknowledged their error in the
treatment of the colonies, and they hail
| these independent sons, grown to imperial
manhood and standing side by side with
them in bearing the burdens of civiliza-
ton and the flaming torch of Liberty
around the world. We are proud of them,
as they are proud of us. Thus spoke
their late high-minded Laureate
1 20, thou that sendest out the man
To rule by land and sea,
Strong mother of a lion-line,
Besproud of those strong sons of thine,
Who wrench'd their rights from thee!
loud applause.)
Frank Bergen responded to 1.-THE Course
of Our Democracy" in which he traced
the progressive changes in the ~country's
history.
Miss Cecilia Gaines talked of Wom-
ans Clubs, and Mr.. Frank O. Cole also
spoke,
Mr.. Albert Chandler Wall. to the toast
of 1.-THE pruning of laurels." made an ad
mirable address, all too short.
Major u. K. Pangborn responded for
the ladies in his accustomed witty style
and this concluded a most enjoyable BAN
oJet.