Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-10
Lord Salisbury Sees Danger Ahead
in Pro-Boer Sympathies.
SPEECH BEFORE PRIMROSE LEAGUE
Justifies Governments Course Re-
gardiug Ireland and South Africa.
CRITICISM OF GLADSTONE

rose League was held in Albert Hall. Lon
don. yesterday afternoon. The spacious
building was gaily decorated and was well
filled. The Marquis of Salisbury. grand
master, presided and received ovation
Madame Albani sang verse of God Save
the Queen" which was then taken up by
the whole vast audience.
Lord Salisbury in the course of his ad-
dress, commented on the remarkable change !
which had taken place in the latter half of !
the century in the views of the people re-
garding the empire. They formerly repealed |
1t, he said. burden and that doctrine |
was carried to such extremes by man of |
splendid genius Gladstone, that ii produced |
a strong reaction, which started after the |
disaster of Majuba hill and the death of |
Gen. Gordon. The death of Gordon, he con-
tinued, had been avenged: perhaps it was
too soon to say that the great humiliation !
OF MaJuba had been effaced that the |
great wrong had been righted, but they felt |
they We're on the road to accomplish that |
end. Under the brilliant guidance of Lord |
Roberts 100000 soldiers. larger army than
had ever before been sent across the same
expanse of sea, was now engaged to reduc-
ing TO obediency to the queen those terrific
ries which ought never to have been re-
leased and to restoring to South Africa the
only chance it had of peace, DEVELOPMENT
and tranquility.
Reference to the Irish Problem,
The premier next referred to the difficult
and intricate Irish problem and said:
Mr.. Gladstone. in an evil moment for the
fame of the country and for his party, at
tached himself TO the idea of the separation
of England and Ireland. 1t is unnecessary
to say that the legacy to the Primrose
League had also failed There has been a
long struggle, but no one can say the home
rule cause presents any elements of san
gune anticipation for the future. 1t might
hn ha TriS
and that Mr.. Gladstone's aspirations would
be fulfilled. But do not believe that the
causes which have once been well beaten
have reappeared to any purpose in English
history. Apart, however, from the fate of
former struggles. l am still assured that
there Is no nope of the predominant partner
ever consenting to give Ireland practical
independence. We have learned something
from the South African war. How a dis
loyal government, in spite Of warnings
could accumulate ornaments against the
most powerful combatant, and thus secure
a terrible advantage. We now know better
than we did ten years ago what a risk 1t
would be If we gave disloyal government
in Ireland the power of accommodating forces
against this country.
Mr.. Gladstone shattered his own party
SO that for the moment they are erased and
a powerless factor in English politics. But
1t must not be imagined that the efface-
ment is likely to be permanent.
Elements of Peril Accumulatinx,
d
considerably larger place among the prob
lens we have to solve. This is not neces-
sarily because in themselves they are more
important; but if we look around we can
see the elements and causes of menace and
peril slowly accommodating, and they may
accumulate to such a point as to REQUIRE
our earnest and most active efforts to repel
them.
Il am nervous at using language of such
kind. lest it should be thought am indi-
eating that something is known at the for
eign office by pointing out this possibIe
danger. But 1 wish most emphatically to
say have no idea of that kind. The state
of affairs as 1 know it and so far as the
government is concerned is peaceful 1t is
impossible to speak too highly of the care
full calm neutrality which has been OBJ
served by all the governments of the world.
loud cheers.)
IA certain section of our subjects, not,
l hope. very large. though very noisy
one. has at the present moment a great
prejudice against this country. 1t does not.
however. follow that have no precau-
tons to take. Governments may come and
go and feelings may change from year to
year. The root of that bitterness against
England. which 1 am unable to explain
may be mere caprice to satisfy the exigen-
ctes of journalists today, or it may indicate
deep-seated feeling which later we may
have to reckon with.
Must BE Strong to BE Safe.
There can be no security nor confidence
in the feelings sympathy of other ma
tons except through the efficiency of ones
own defense and the strength of ones own
right arm. Everywhere the power of Of
tense Is Increasing. and who knows but all
these things may be united in one great |
wave to dash upon our shores?" |
The premier urged the necessity Of pre-
caution in time, saying: |
In every case in history a great mari
time power has been Observation-Disclosures
by disasters suffered in its provinces but |
by a blow directed at the heart. The Brit
ish navy, of course, ought to be sufficient. |
But are We wise in placing all our eggs in |
one basket?
AS to land defense so far as can see,
anything in the nature of CONSUMPTION is |
not remedy the country Is prepared to
accept. Therefore, we must induce the |
people to put themselves voluntarily in |
position to defend their homes and coun- |
try The Primrose League can do much to |
foster the creation OF rifle clubs. If once !
the feeling could be propagated. that it is |
the duty of every abe bodied Englishman |
to make himself comp .tent to meet an in
vading enemy. We would have a defensive |
force which would make the chances of |
an assailant so bad that no assailant would |
appear" cloud applause)
After a resolution urging British subjects |
10 prepare In times of peace to be |
ready to play their part in time Of impe- |
rial emergency had been carried by accla- !
nation the meeting adjourned
Comment on SaIisbury's Speech.
to the speech said to the correspondent of |
the New York Herald:
Lord Salisbury has deemed this mo-
ment opportune to intimate Great Britain's |
attitude toward the pro-Boer agitation in
the United States and elsewhere. He de-
clared that there seemed to be a deep
seated feeling hostile to England. with |
which 1t might become necessary to reckon
l am reliably informed that the premier
had In mind while speaking the unfriendly
utterances attributed to Colonel Bryan and |
the demagogic harangues of Webster Davis
of course, his observations predicated
on possible invasion of London referred |
to the well-known aspirations of a certain |
school Of French strategists.
'On the whole, his lordship's speech was |
wariike utterance. proceeding from pro-
found convictions Of the perils that encir-
Gle England"
Irishmen Of the nationalist type indig-
nantly resent Lord Salisburys positive re-
marks concerning home rule One Of them
said to a correspondent last night:
why should the prime minister have |
gone out of his way to trample upon irish |
Sensibilfties? he -