The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-10
he OPPOSES
HOME RULE.
Plain Declaration by British
Premier, Lord. Salisbury.
MADE TO PRIMROSE LEAGUE
Boer War, Re Declares, Furnishes q Lesson
Is to Treatm.nt Of Inland
GORD0RS MURDER HAS BEEN AVENGED
And Tho o,fsat al msluba HlH WIN Be fif,cst.
clemens Of Menace and Peril krs sIowly A.
sumu'aIng The Power Of Defence.
MADE TO PRIMROSE LEAGUE
GoRD0Rs MURDER HAS BEEN AVENGED

London, May 10.-The annual Grand
Hapitation OF the Primrose League was
held in Albert Hall yesterday afternoon.
The Marquis OF Salisbury. Grand Mas
ter, presided and received an ovation.
Lord Salisbury during the course OF his
address commented on the remarkable
change which had taken place i'm the
latter half of the century in the views
OF people regarding the empire. They
Formerly repelled it, he said, as a bur-
ueh ana mat doctrine was carried TO
sucn extremes by that man of splendid
genius, Gladstone. that IL produced a
strohg reaction. which started after
the disaster OF Majuba Hill and the
death or Gen. Gordon. The death OF
Sofdon. he continued had been aveng-
ed. Perhaps IL was too soon TO say the
great numiiiation of Majuba had been
eHaced or that the great wrong had
Deen righted. But they felt they were
on the road 10 accomplish that end.
The Premier next referred TO the diff
ncult and Intricate Irish problem, and
said:
Mr.. Gladstone. I'm an evil moment for
The fame of the country and for his
party, attached himself to the idea of
the separation Of England and ireland.
III is unnecessary to say that the leg
acy 10 the Primrose League has also
failed. There has been a long struggle.
but no one can say the home rule cause
presents any elements OF sanguine an
tcipation for the future. / am still
assured sthat there is no hope of the
predominant partner ever consenting
TO give Ireland practical Independence
We have learned something from the
South African war. We. now know
better than we did 10 years ago what a
risk 1t would be If We gave a disloyal
government ins Ireland the power of
accumulating forces against this coun-
try.
SHATTERED HIS PARTY.
'Mr. Gladstone shattered his own
party. so that for the moment they are
erased and a powerless factor In
English politics. But IL must not be
imagined that the effacement is likely
to De permanent"
The Premier continued: Hereafter
external affairs will occupy a consid-
erably larger place among the prob
lens We have TO solve. Not necessarily
because I'm themselves, they are more
important. bur If we look around we
can see the elements and causes of
menace and peril slowly accommodating,
and they may accumulate to such
point as TO require our earnest and
most active efforts TO repeal them.
II am nervous at using language of
such a kind, lest q should be thought
/ am indicating that something is
known to the Foreign Office. by point
ing out this possible danger But |
wish most emphatically to say 1 have
no idea of that Kind. The state OF af-
fairs as 1 know II, and so far as rne
government is concerned, is peaceful
Ii is impossible TO speak too highly OF
the careful calm neutrality which has
been observed by all the governments
OF the world"
The Premier's remarks were greeted
with loud cheers.
Continuing. Lord Salisbury said: "A
certain section Of our subjects. not,
hope, very large, thought a very
noisy one, has at the present moment
great prejudice against this country.
1t does not, however. show that we
have no precautions to take. Govern
ments may come and go and feelings
may change from year TO year. That
root Of bitterness against England.
which i am unable 10 explain, NAV be
mere caprice to satisfy the exigencies
OF journalists today. or II may indi-
cate deep-seated feeling which later
we may have TO reckon with. There
can be no security nor confidence in
the feelings or sympathy of other ma
tions except through the efficiency of
their own defence and the strength of
their own right arm. Everywhere the
power OF defence is increasing. and who
knows but all these things may be
united in one great wave TO dash upon
our shores"
PRECAUTION NECESSARY.
The Premier then urged the necessity
of precaution in time, remarking that
the material for military aggression
was yearly increasing i'm power and
efficiency among everyone of the great
adding:
I'm every race in history the great
power has Feen paralyzed,
killed not by disasters suffered i'm it's
provinces. but by blow directed at
the heart. The british navy of course.
ought to be sufficient. But ~-- We wise
in placing all our eggs in one basket?
las to land defence so far as ] can
see in the nature of hhings conscription
is not remedy the country is prepared
to accept. Therefore. we must induce
the people to voluntarily put them
selves i'm a position to defend their
homes and country. The Primrose
League can do much TO foster the crea-
tion of rifle clubs. If once the feeling
could be propaSated that IL is the duty
Of every ahle-bo1ied Englshmsn TO
make himself compe,cnt 10 meet an i'm
vading army. We would have n defen-
sive force which would make the
chances OF an assailant so bad that no
assailant would appear"
This statement was also greeted with
loud applause. After a resolution ur'
ing British subjects TO prepare IN times
OF peace so as To be ready to- play their
part i'm time of imperial emergency had