The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-11

fact, il IS an established British tradition
hat they should be. The nnu ~inaugura-
ton of the Lord Mayor of London COR
responds in brilliancy and spectacular
formalities with our Inauguration of Presi-
dent. and comes four tirnes as often As
the term of the sovereign is permanent the
Inauguration of the Lord Mayor serves TO
crafty the national longing for public func-
tons and at the same time to keep alive
the ancient and traditional relation Of the
city of London proper TO The United King
dom. Under these traditions the Lord
Mayor is a very independent and exalted
official within the old city-so much so that
on certain state occasions the sovereign
himself asks the Lord Mayors permission
to enter the city. The Lord Mayors BAN
quet is of ancient origin and historic signi-
ficance. On this occasion the Lord Mayor
dispenses the hospitality of the old city.
and the sovereign, If not present in person,
is represented by some member of the
government who speaks far more freely
concerning matters of state than the SOW
ereign ever does in the address to Parlia-
ment. On more than one occasion the
King of England has attended the banquet
in person.
The striking features of Lord Salisbury's
speech at the banquet on Friday night
were his open reference to our recent presi-
Dental election and his significant warn
ing to the British people that they must
prepare for better defense against trouble
or invasion from without. In referring to
our election Lord Salisbury broke an un-
written law which requires a minister of
foreign affairs to refrain from making pub
lie comment on the internal affairs or poll
tics of another power. Lord Salisbury
recognized the existence of this unwritten
law by mildly apologizing for breaking it.
but he did so nevertheless. ut is quite
wrong" he said, 'for a secretary of state
to make any observations with respect to
the internal politics of another country;
but 1 am soon to give up my office and, in
view of this abandonment which is close
at hand. 1 hope Mr.. Choate will forgive
with which all of us have heard of what
has recently taken place in the United
States" For a British premier, even on the
point of retirement, to express supreme
satisfaction over the result of an Ameri-
can election was certainly remarkable. If
Lord Salisbury had thus publicly expressed
his sympathy for the Republican cause be-
fore the election it might have cost the
party some votes. though probably not
many. as the American people have shown
themselves able to rise above petty con-
siderations. The reason assigned by Lord
Salisbury for rejoicing over the Republican
victory should satisfy every intelligent
American that there was nothing sinister
in his supreme satisfaction" He said:
We believe that the cause which has won
is the cause of civilization and commercial
honor. We believe those principles to be at
the root of all prosperity and all progress
in the world Therefore, we claim that we
have as much right TO rejoice in what has
taken place as the distinguished gentleman
referring to Mr.. Choate] who sits at my
side.
This expresses precisely what millions of
Americans who voted for Mr.. Mckinley
believe. They feel that his reelection was
not so much a mere party triumph as it
was a victory for the cause of civilization
and commercial honor. which are at the
root of all prosperity and progress. In this
large and wide view of the case English
men who believe in civilization and COM
mercial honor. and who desire the pros
perity and progress Of English-speaking
nations, have as much reason to rejoice
in the result of our election as Americans
themselves. Lord Salisbury's way of put
ting it was happy and impressive, and the
unprecedented character of the allusion
showed a very friendly feeling for the
American government and people. If such
expressions as this, expressions of admira-
ton for the intelligence and honesty of the
American people. indicate "a secret al
lance" then let American jingoists and
British lion tail-twisters make the most
of il.
Lord S~alisbury's allusion 60 the need of
better preparation by Great Britain to resist
and repel foreign invasion or attack was
mainly significant for the British people.
They as well as ourselves have recently
learned the Importance of preparing for
war in time of peace. AT the beginning OF
our war with Spain a powerful fleet could
easily nave ravaged our Atlantic coast, and
even now it is insuficiently defended. But
for her navy the British coasts are prob
ably not much better defended than ours.
The strong point of the speech for English
men was that mo reform. no improvement,
is of the slightest value unless security
against external interference is obtained by
putting our defenses in such a position that
no accident may happen beyond our borders
that shall make our security doubtful
Read between the lines this is an appeal
for the strengthening of England's means
of repelling an attack from without. and 1t
Is notice to other powers that she does not
intend to be caught mapping. The British
lion will sleep with one eye open and in
good ~springing order.
FAILURE OF THE VICIOUS NEWS
PAPER.
Ono IF the most orafffvfnp roeufts of 49,