The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-02
President Of the Chamber Of Commerce
Presented Him With an Address.
FRIENDSHIP OF THE COUNTRIES
Was Dilated Upon by Mr.. Choate, and
Every Reference to Cordial I'm
derstanding Was Heartily
Applauded by Crowd.

southampton, March l-JOSeph Il.
Choate, the United States ambassador to
the Court of st. James, arrived here this
afternoon on board the American line
steamer st. Paul from New York. The
steamer was boarded by the mayor and
sheriff, who welcomed the ambassador in
behalf of the corporation. Mr.. Choate was
met by Lieutenant ]. C. Colwell the United
States naval attache, instead of by Henry
White, the United States charge daffaires,
who is attending the drawing-room at
Buckingham Palace, London.
The president of the Southampton cham
ber of commerce presented the new am
bassador with an address, rendering him
the most cordial welcome, and saying:
''Your arrival in the magnificent st. Paul
which recently did great signal service in
your navy gives unique interest to the oc-
cion and forcibly reminds us of the ever
increasing facilities afforded the commerce
of two countries and the cordialty and
friendship whereby we recognize that your
nation is akin to us in common ancestry.
language and pursuits
Several thousand persons awaited the ar
rival of the United States ambassador.
Stars and Stripes Displayed
The stars and stripes were displayed on
many buildings and Immediately after the
arrival of the st. Paul she was boarded by
a delegation of 200 of the principal citizens
of Southampton, headed by the mayor and
other officers in their official robes. They
were introduced to the ambassador in the
dining saloon by Lieutenant Carter, where
the addresses were delivered. Afterward
many members of the welcoming party
shook hands with the ambassador.
All Mr.. Choate's references to the friend
ship existing between the two nations were
loudly applauded, as was grateful tribute
which he paid to Queen Victoria during the
course of his reply to the mayor. In well
coming the ambassador, the mayor said
he was proud to be mayor of Southampton
in order to welcome such a distinguished
guest, accredited as ambassador from the
great country-America. He also spoke of
the cordial relations between the two coun-
tries.
Mr.. Choate replied in a short speech of
thanks, saying in part:
1.-The ports of New York and Southamp-
ton are now closely united by the great
steamships plying between them, like the
shuttles of a weavers loom, connecting
them by imperishable bonds. This mutual
commerce interchange and travel. will do
more to strengthen the ties which already
unite the two countries than anything else
can do.
Would Never Fail
"If the men and women of your country
could visit my country as freely as ours do
yours, the good understanding which now
exists would never fail.
Southampton has a special significance
for Americans, as it was the point of de-
parture of the Mayfower on the historic
voyage which was to end in planting new
nation. 1t proved to be the first great
departure of the English from their island
home and it's land life. They went to take
possession of the continent, waiting to be
subdued and replenished. The God in
whom thew trusted prospered the good
work. They carried with them the English
bible, the common law, the idea of repre-
sentative government and liberty of the in
dividual.
"Springing from this stock, a republic of
70,00O,O00, allied in blood, institutions, infiu-
ences and hopes of the future, stretches
across the Atlantic the right hand of fell
lowship and Is ready to meet the mother
country more than half way in everything
which will tend to promote the common
good of the two nations and the general
welfare of mankind.
The Mayfower and st. Paul
1.-THE Mayfiower of 1920 and the st. Paul
OF today furnish a symbol of the marvellous
change which time has wrought. The crazy
little bark of 180 tons bearing beneath her
deck the fortunes of a race putting in for
repairs at Dartmouth and Plymouth, hard
ly strong enough to hold together across
the Atlantic, landed her hundred heroes
and heroines. after more than four months,
on a rock which was to be the cornerstone
of American. freedom. Today the repre-
sentatives of their descendants traverse the
same seas In a single week, in a mighty
cruiser just converted from a swift engine
of war to welcome messenger of peace,
herself an emblem of that sea power upon
which the destinies of the Anglo-Saxon
race depend.
"As go to present my letter of credence
from the president to your iliustrious SOW
ereign, who, after more than sixty years,
still reigns supreme over the hearts Of her
subjects and commands the affectionate
admiration of our own countrymen as their
ever steadfast and faithful friend accept
your cordial greeting as the harbinger of
that practical friendship which is to hence
forth control and govern the conduct Of
the two nations"