New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-07
ENGLISH SPEAKING MEN.
REASONS FOR HOLDING THEIR COMING
CONVENTION.

WALTER vRooMAN SHOWS WHY A PETTY
DISLIKE FOR ENGLAND SHOULD
BE IGNORED.
Walter vrooman founder and president OF Rus
kin Hall. Oxford, IS snow in this country urging
forward the plans for the English Speaking People
Convention. which is to be held at Oxford Feb
ruary . next. the anniversary of George Wash
ington's birthday The choice OF that date conveys
e striking impression Of the great change that has
recently the feelings with which Eng
land and the United States regard each other. Not
long ago 1t would have been considered almost an
insult arrange for any convention in the British
Empire anniversary sacred to the memory
Of the leader who deprived her Of her greatest
colonies; but now the conviction is spreading on
both sides of the Atlantic that the various English
speaking communities organicalIy nation
after all, from this conviction there has arisen
a desire for more intimate union, clearer under
standing and closer friendship between them and
America. 1t is confidently expected that the con-
vention will materially aid this desire TO attain
fruition.
UNION OF DEMOCRACY SOUGHT FOR.
Mr.. Yrooman. in discussing the reasons for call
ing the convention said, among other things, to
Tribune reporter:
Our contempt for the English aristocracy their
stupid, suicidal system of snobbery and favoritsm
with petrihed INABILITY 10 adapt themselves TO
the new forces OF CIVILIZATION. can have no effect
10 add TO our haternal feelings, for democracy
everywhere, even In England shares this contempt
the English. which we know exists in certain
quarters, can have little influence against the
movement for closer union. For during the life
time of our children England will contain more
than one-tenth of the white people who speak Eng
Nsh and within a century. mere wave on the
OF humanity's life. England will not contain a
and speaking the same tongue. Therefore, England
caa5 MINOR ed I@SI1r IN our ions Aq US n
land by ties stronger than those of mutual in
colonies desired to break its present connection
with England no army would be sent 10 retain 1t.
nection with Great Britain because they get value
which has not been destroyed by oppression. Like
the United States. these vast sef-governing terri
all branches of the white Irish blood being
the new mixture Hero, them are vast sister self
governing peoples Of our own American mixed
speaking our language, helping to work out our
common aesLlny Iogether we VIII o seen o nu14ep
eaPb OF f6s nmbe gf EbFIs4d vii Contain d prob
s s8S 90 more IMAM she mas present ABOUT
RELATIONS OF SISTER REPUBLICS.
The main question that presents itself to states
ons be t toward this little island that viii soon
number less than 100000 among l9OoGo00oC OF our
sister republics. Australia, Canada and South
hereafter our claim TO Australia and Canada and
the other territories where language is spoken
Us, unless some calamitous blunder DEGREES other
wise. shall rule our fellow frgeInen only ny me
DO most for the others will be the greatest among
treaties and existing forms of political government
will all be chaff in relation TO this vital expand
ing homogeneous race. We are not the English
race. We are a new race made up OF me most
The white races 9InaIsa tea uIder ea4.IluI
ditions afforded by new territories and the moral
binaton of freedom and personal security thus far
wrought by man The premier place as lea1er ana
and our incompatible advantages over England
are not due to any superior craftsmanship on our
part, bat it Is due to physical geography and the
finger Of destiny.
THE UNITED STATES THE MAINSTAY.
America has everything to gain by regarding
the independence of every square foot Of soil now
occupied by white people who speak Engllsh , as
sacredly as We should guard the territory WITHIN
mother, but the United States is clearly the head
life in which for her own good she, must now.
obey those members Of her family in the prime OF
given birth to the numerous offspring and 10 the
but IN c8se Of great Struggle it Is the strong arm
Of the United States which must defend them The
solubly linked with that Of the English and the
sas farmer. the Australian colonist and the New
Zealander We are all suffering from variety
evils caused solely by the domination of the
investor class governments and by the
ri are nerp fo @ temeoraT GI nt te
ests Of trade and dividends, which are individual.
The movements heretofore attempted for alliance
10 be in the saddle now in Great Britain and the
Robin Hood band Of fortune grasping adventures
who dominate American politics at present have no
interest for Our purpose is TO bring together in
behalf Of the better civilization suggested by
AnglO-SaXon institutions the representatives of
the masses. not IN the Of glory for our rul-
ers but Of increased JOY and character Of life for
the united common people.
THE WORK OF RUSKIN HALL
The convention originated Ruskn Hall Ruskin
Hall IS workingmens college. founded in Oxford
By Americans It receives students not with the
Intention Of making them lawyers or cergymen
but with the hope Of sending them back to their
own work fully equipped for the leadership of their
own class It has its rolls and it educates at
this moment. about fifteen hundred workingmen
by correspondence: it has founded other Ruskin
Halls in the more important towns Of England
and Is founding similar institutions with similar
aims in this country. The special subjects taught
are constitutional and institutional history In
other words. II IS designed to introduce EVERYWHERE
among the younger Workingmen sound views of his
tory ana sociology, and Of development accord
ing 10 knowledge in place Of wild imaginations
OF possible millenniums to be attained bv hastv
revolution. ~ ''
The British workmen attending Ruskin Hail
oxford raised $4,000 found a W0rlyinPrner1S
the college started. and also TO invi e the work
ingmen or this land 10 assist the convention as
the guests OF England's WOrkingmen.
MORE HONEY FOR STREET CLEANING
The estimates for the Street Cleaning Denart
ment for 1901 filed yesterday. They annoup+