The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-16

will and friendship manifested to them
so freely by the British people. lt is true,
gentlemen, that peace bstween the United
States and Great Britain Is the nrst IN. /.
terest not only of those two nations, but
of the whole world.
In expressing his gratitude for the
cordial greeting he had received from All
sorts and conditions Of men. since his
arrival In England, MIR. Choate said:
Everywhere / have been treated as q
friend and as the representative OF your
friends and brothers"
After reference to the open door and the
"enlarged sphere of influence which a
cordial brotherhood had opsn up" the
Am bassador continued:
81 beg that you will not mistake my
though friends, We shall evar cease to be
rivals. In the future as In the past, We,
ON our side, and you on yours, will sti j
press every advantage that can be fairly
taken, but 1t shall be generous and
loyal rivalry. and all questions. dis
putes and controversies arising shall be
settled BY peaceful means. BY negoti-
possible means except war;
After pointing out that this was new
sentiment. Mr.. Choate remarked:
while the last great conflict between
Great Britain and America failed to set
tie any of the great questions upon which
either side took up arns-showing that
between brethren war is the worst pos
sible means of settling any controversy
yet in the S4 years that have since
elapsed, what tremendous questions. heat
cd words, threatening demonstrations
which would inevitably have brought
any other two nations into open and fire.
quent conflict have occurred on either
side, and all been arranged and adjusted
without resort to arms"
Referring to the Venezuelan imbroglio,
he observed:
"You know that on our side of the
water we love occasionally to twist the
lions tail for the mere sport OF hearing
him roar. daughter. Well, that time
he disappointed u.s. He would not roar
at ell. He sat silent as the sphynx, and
by dint of mutual forbearance our sober
second thought aiding your sober first
thought we averted everything hut o mere
war of warm words"
Abiding to the satisfactory dispelling
Of the cloud between Russia and Eng
land over the Niu Chwang railway exten'
sion loan, by means of peaceful diploma
cy,' MIR. Choate said:
"That Is the kind OF diplomacy whlcn
l, just entering upon q diplomatic ca
resr, desire very much to understand
for am free enough to believe that II
these two countries laboring together for
peace, unite their voice In demanding IT.
1t is almost sure In every case.
~ would like to quote my President
again; for The last words heard him
sny were that the United States today
was on better terms with every nation
on the face of the earth than 1t had ever
been before.
"Now 1 have little more to say Of
my own country. Our young republic
has hard work during the past century
to subdue the continent and to turn q
den. But that business is now pretty well
finished, and so last year yonr brother
Jonathan started out to see the world.
He donned seven league. nay seven hun =
dred leagus boots, and planted his foot
steps on the isles Of the sea. And what
gigantic strides he made-Hawaii. then
ManilA aud another, my Lord Charles.
would have brought him to Hong Kong.
Well, our interest and commerce differ
only In degrees, and 1t isl won say
as Lord Charles Beresford did. by putting
fleets side by side--but by common pur-
pose and o united voice for us to COM
inand peace for the mutual support of the
commerce of the two countries. -
After paying eloquent tributes to the
late baron Hersohell and to Rudyard
Kipling, MIR. Choate concluded rs follows:
1--WE are almost one people. What
say is, let our voices always be lifted to-
gethsr for the cause of human progress
and the advance of civilization, and my
word for 1t, If that can always be fol-
lowed, why the law, order, peace and
freedom, which are the nurses OF com
merce the world over, will prevail and
the cause of humanity will be advanced. I"
(Chesrs.)
Baron Russell of Killowen, the Lord
Chief Justice. who followed Mr.. Choate,
him upon his eloquence,
the width and depth OF his observations
and the statesmanlike tone that pervad-
ed his speech.
The other speakers dealt with matters
Of local interest.
The chairman, who said he Joined most
cordially In welcoming the American
AMBASSADOR, expressed the hope that dur =
ing his tenure of office no cloud would
ever arise between England ard the
United States. The proceedings then
Mr. Choate spoke deliberately and In
rather a low tone. His humorous rs
marks met with peals OF laughter. He
had q wonderful reception, made quite
the speech of the evening and was list
ened to with the deepest attention, and
resumed his seat amid perfect thunders
of applause. Lord Russell personally
him.