The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16
CHOATE MAKES
A GREAT SPEECH
New ambassador Wins
British Hearts.
ELOQUENCE AND SOLID FACTS
SOME HUMoR ALSO INJECTED
INTO HIS REMARKS.
Lord Charles Beresford and Other
Noted Englishmen Also Talk
at the Chamber Of Com
merce banquet.
Special Dispatch to The Gail.


of Commerce, Rear Admiral Lord
Charles Beresford, who replied to the
toast to the navy, declined to be drawn
into discussion of the Chinese situ-
alton. He concluded his speech by
saying:
The company is waiting to hear a dis
Of the United States, whom every man of
the fore and aft in this country is de-
lghted to see, but l cannot be seated
tunity to see the fleet of the Americans
in both the Pacific and Atlantic. 1 saw
q, very excellent fleet. not only in the way
eral organization and preparedness.
need not extol its officers and men. They
and have See %8a a sey our can
when called on. / hope the time will very
shortly come when there will be such an
understanding between the. two countries
us or affecting our honor and safety
these two fleets will be together. That
will make much progress for peace.
Vice President Harper then submit
ted the toast of "Our Guests" coupled
with the names of Mr.. Choate and
pressed his keen pleasure at the advent
of Mr.. Choate at a time when there
is every disposition to tighten the
bonds of the Anglo-SaXon race, whose
only objects are peace, prosperity, free
dom Of trade and progress"
The toast was received with loud
cheers, the company standing and
shouting the name of Mr.. Choate. who
was thrice cheered. Mr.. Choate. on
rising to respond, received an ovation.
The United States ambassador began
jokingly, protesting that he was over
whelmed with embarrassment at being
called upon to respond in priority to
~ Yof 10 al hot
when the British lion was abotlt to
roar, even the American eagle should
hold his peace. He was delighted. he
said, to receive and accept the invita-
tion to the banquet, although he was
not at liberty to discuss British COM
merce. His general instructions from
his Government were not to discuss
politics or only at extraordinarily fes-
tai occasions Qaughter). After a few
words on the subject of commerce.
which he characterized as truly "the
mainstay of the British empire" he
concluded as follows:
have felt, however, that might prop
erly avail myself of this first public occa-
sion to express the appreciation of my
countrymen for the forbearance, good will
and friendship manifested to them so
freely by the British people. 1t. Is true,
States and Great Britain Is the first in
terest of not only these two nations but
for the whole world.
Everywhere | have been treated as a
friend and as the representative of your
friends and brothers. In fact, l have
actually discovered the open door-open
to such an extent as would satisfy even
the yearnings of the rear admiral who
has made the circle of the globe in search
of it. I think l may say as testimony
to the good feeling sought to be encour-
aged on our side of the water that the
President gave the best illustration of it
when he said in my letter of credence
that he relied with confidence upon my
constant endeavor during my stay In
Great Britain to promote the interest and
prosperity of both nations.
| beg that you will not mistake my
meaning. l do not believe that. although
friends, we shall ever cease to be rivals.
In the future, as in the past, we on our
side and you on yours will still seek every
advantage that can fairly be taken: but
it shall be generous and loyal rivalry, and
all questions, disputes and controversies
arising shall be settled by peaceful means;
| by negotiations, by arbitration, by any
and every means except war.
While the last conflict between Great
Britain and America failed to settle any
of the great questions upon which either
side took up arms, showing that between
brethren war is the worst possible means
OF settling any controversy, yet in the
eighty-four years that have since elapsed
the tremendous questions, heated words,
threatening demonstrations which would
inevitably have brought two other ma
tions into open and frequent conflict, have
occurred on either side and have all been
arranged and adjusted without restort 70
arms.
Referring to the Venezuelan imbrog-
lilo, he observed: You know that on
our side of the water we love occasion
ally to twist the lions tail for the mere
sport of hearing him roar. daughter
| Well, that time disappointed us. He
would not roar at all. He sat silent as
the Sphinx, and by dint of mutual for
bearance, our sober second thought aid
| ing your sober first thought, we avoided
everything but a mere war of words. ~
Abiding to the satisfactory dispelling
of the cloud between Russia and Eng
land over the Neuchang railway exten-
sion loan by means of peaceful diplo-
macy Mr.. Choate said:
That is the kind of diplomacy which 1
who am just entering upon diplomatic
career, desire very much to understand
for 1 am fresh enough to believe that il
these two countries. laboring together for
peace, unite their voices in demanding II
it is almost sure in every case. (Cheers.)
for the last words I heard him say were
that the United States to-day were on
better terms with every nation on, the
face of the earth than 1t had ever been
before. (Cheers.) Now. I have little
more to say of my own country. (Cries
of Go on.'D Our young republic had
hard work during the past century to
subdue the continent and to turn the
wilderness into a smiling and wealthy
garden. But that business is now pretty
well finished. and so last year your
Brother Jonathan started out to see the
world He donned seven-leag gue-nay,
seven hundred league--boots and planted
his footsteps on the isles of the sea. And
what gigantic strides he made! Hawaii
then Manila, and another step, my Lord
Charles. would have brought him to
Hongkong. Well. our interest and com
merce differ only in degree; and 1t isl
won't say, as Lord Charles Beresford did
by putting fleets side by side, but by a
| common purpose and united voice for
us to command peace for the mutual sup
port of the commerce OF the two coun-
Gentlemen, we are almost one people
What I say is, let our voice always be
lifted togeEner for the cause of human
progress an the advancement of civili-
zation, and, my word for it, If that car
| always be followed. why, then. law, or
der peace and freedom, which are the
| nurses of commerce the world over, will
prevail and the cause OF humanity Will be
advanced. (Cheers.)
| Baron Russell followed Mr.. Choate
and complimented him upon his elo-
| quence, the width and depth of his OBJ
servations and the statesmanlike tone
| that pervaded his speech.
Double Tragedy at Skaguay.
u. Il@eH .A1lI4