New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-05
ANGLO-AMERICAN UNITY.
LORD ROsEBERY'S TRIBUTE TO THE
OUEEN-AN AMERICAN SIDE-SHOW
WITHOUT COURT DRESS.
London. May ~.

LONDON, may ~.
Lord Rosebery may have an awkward habit
Of looking long way behind when ne Is hailed
as the Man Of the Future, but his most obstI-
nate critic cannot challenge his title as the
prince OF English after.dinner speakers He
has made this week a sngularly felicitous
speech at the London dinner In honor OF the
Queens eighteth birthday. In presiding over
a banquet which was designed 10 be spon-
taneous demonstration OF respect and admira-
ton for the sovereign. he embarrassed by
the dignity OF the occasion. which precluded
the exercise OF his peculiar talent for humor
and pleasantly and also by the familiarity Of
a tinne-worn theme. He was under constrant
not 10 say anything that would excite merr-
rnent and consequently he had TO be on guard
against his own nmble and playful wit. He
also had tn propose toast which had been
drunk a hundred thousand times throughout
the British Empire and TO try TO say something
fresh and significant about II. 1t was not an
enviable position for an after-dinner speaker
with reputation for originality distinction and
charm: but Lord Rosebery emerged in triumph
from the embarrassments OF the evening after
a brilliant exhibition OF earnest oratory and
consummate tact and Judgment
AS many as four points in Lord Rosebery's
speech had the effect Of novelty and freshness
One was the statement that when the Queen
came to the throne in her eighteenth year she
at once attained all the honor. all the power,
all the splendor that the world could offer her.
and there was nothing left for her to achieve
except domestic happiness and the conquest OF
the affections Of her subjects. Another was the
assertion that far beyond the limits Of her own
dominions she has exercised a sovereignty
which can be bounded only by those capable Of
trrfty
Another was the proud boast that she had es-
tablIshed her own throne on base incompa-
rably broader and stronger than any other
throne in the world, and that she had strength
ened all righteous and upright monarchs. His
final tribute was to the young girl exposed TO
all the splendor Of the greatest throne, who had
been able 10 preserve TO her eghtieth year
reputation. not merely unspotted and unclouded,
but one that had exalted human nature itself.
All these points were felicitousy phrased and
every sentence was delivered with feryor and
intense earnestness In a deep, exquisitely modu-
lated voice. When the speech was finished the
auditors began with one consent to whisper
among themselves that the toast to the Queen
had never before been so happily proposed. BY
fluency Of utterance, dignity OF diction and per-
feet grace OF delivery Lord Rosebery had
charmed them into the belief that he had done
a
task in an original and fascinating way.
PREVAILING DULNEss.
The tributes in support Of the toast were with
a single exception dull and spiritess. and tended
by contrast to intensity the charm Of Lord
Rosebery's performance. The Lord Mayor
spoke for the city of London, Sir Mancherjee
Bhounaggree for the Empire of India. Lord
Strathcona for Canada Sir Andrew Clark for
Australasia, Sir David Tenant for South
Africa and the Right Hon. Evelyn Ashley for
the Crown Colonies and Protectorates, These
crcumspect speeches were delivered llstlsssly
in an official tone and were received with polite
but languid applause. -..,s-.
The only speech after Lord Rosebery's 10
make stir was that Of Colonel James L. Tay-
lor the ex-chairman OF the American Society in
London. When he rose TO speak for "England's
Oldest Colony" there was welcome from every
English table. which seemed TO imply that more
lay outside than within the British Empire.
Colonel Taylor does not affect 10 be orator,
but he speaks with manly directness and sim
certify of purpose and is a great favorite with
English audiences. On this occasion nearly
every sentence was applauded with exceptional
heartiness. and there outburst OF genuine
enthusiasm at the close the entire audience
standing while The Star Spangled Banner"
was played by the band.
A few nights ago 1 heard Mr.. Anthony Hope
Hawkins English audience against
humorous speeches international questions
He remarked grimly that Englishmen could not
understand American jokes, and Americans did
not appreciate English jokes, and consequently
that the two countries must cease to be funny
II they wished to get on amiably together.
Probably he did not intend his pleasantly to be
taken seriously, but there well-salted COM
nonsense in his jest. The time has gone by,
at any rate, when English audiences relish
humorous passages in speeches on Anglo
American relations When there were signs OF
jealousy, distrust and coldness. pleasantly was
helpful and tended to promote good temper.
Now that there is deep. abiding good feeling
between the two countries Englishmen are not
in the humor for international joking. What
| they want to hear from American lips In an
after-dnner speech is e cordial and sincere ex-
| preston OF fraternal feeling for England. They
do not wish to be amused with American
! stories. old or new. and they impatient
whenever there is jocose and fippant treatment
of cause which they have deeply at heart
that Of Anglo Saxon unity.
STRUCK THE RIGHT KEY.
| Colonel Taylor struck the right key at once
when he accepted the title OF THE Oldest British
| Colony in the same spirit OF kinship in which
1t had been applied and declared that the
birthright of race. blood. tradition and speech
was as precious to Americans as 1t was 70
Englshmen Cheers followed the drum-oeat
quotation from Webster. and there were re-
newed rounds OF applause when he described
the Queen as commanding the love and rever-
ence OF every true American heart as the en-
| bodiment OF every womany grace and virtue.
| He illustrated the brotherhood between the
countries by two incidents from Samoa-the
| salute OF the American sailors OF the Trenton