The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-10
1t Would BE Too Great Risk to Give
Disloyal Irishmen Chance to
Accumulate War Munitions.
SAFETY LIES IN DEFENSE
HIS LORDSHIP SAYS THE NAVY Is
NOT SUFFICIENT.
Rifle Clubs Should he Formed to Re-
pei Invaders in Case Other Pow.
ers Unite Against Britain.

LONDON, May 9.-The annual grand hab-
itation of the Primrose Leasne was held in
Albert Hall this afternoon. The spacious
building was gayly decorated and was well
filed. The Marquis of Salisbury, grand
master. presided, and received an 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
half of the century in the views of the peo-
pie regarding the empire. They formerly
repelled it, he said, as a burden, and that
doctrine was carried to such extreme by
man of splendid genius. Gladstone, that it
produced a strong reaction, which started
after the disaster at Majuba hill and the
death of General Gordon. The death of
Gordon, he continued, had been avenged:
perhaps 1T was too soon to say the great
humiliation of Majuba had been effaced or
that the great wrong had been righted but
they felt they were on the road to accom-
plish that end. Under the brilliant guidance
of Lord Roberts 100000 soldiers, a larger
army than had ever before been sent across
the same expanse of sea, was now engaged
in reducing to obedience to the Queen those
territories which ought never been re-
leased. and to restoring to South Africa
the only chance 1t had of peace, develop
ment and tranquility.
The premier next referred to the difficult
and intricate Irish problem ard said: mir.
Gladstone in an evil moment for the fame
Of the country and for his party attached
n a. H. loo 90 - ~ott -
England and Ireland. No one can say the
home rule cause presents any elements
of sanguine anticipation for the future.
am assured that there is no hope of the
predominant partner ever consenting to
give Ireland practical independence. We
have learned something from the South
African war. How disloyal government in
spite of warnings, could accumulate arma-
ments against the most powerful COM
batant and thus secure a terrible advan-
tage. We now know better than we did
ten years ago what a risk it would be If
we gave a disloyal government in Ireland
the power OF accommodating forces against
this country.
Hereafter external affairs will occupy
considerably larger place among the
problems we have to solve. 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 point as to require
our earnest and most active efforts to repel
them.
II am nervous at using language of such
a kind lest it should be thought 1 am in
haf iS 70 he
Foreign Office by pointing out this possible
danger. But l wish most emphatically to
say have no idea of that kind The state
Of affairs as I 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" The premier's remarks were
greeted with loud cheers.
Continuing Lord Salisbury said: "a GER
tain section of their subjects, not hope, a
very large, though noisy one. has at the
present moment great prejudice against
this country. 1t does not however, follow
that we have no precautions to take Gov
ernments may come and go and feelings
may change from year to year. That root
of bitterness against England. which I am
unable to explain. may be mere caprice to
satisfy the exigencies of journalists of to-
day or 1t may indicate a deep-seated feel
ing which later we may have to reckon
with. There can be no security nor conf
dence in the feelings or sympathy of other
nations except through the efficiency of
our own defense and the strength of our
own right arm. Everywhere the power of
defense is increasing. and who knows but
all these things may be united in one great
wave TO dash upon our shores"
The premier then urged the necessity of
precaution in time. remarking that the ma
terial for military aggression was yearly
increasing in power and efficiency among
every one of the great nations, adding:
I'm every case in history the great mari
time power has been paralyzed-killed, not
by 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 con-
scription is not a remedy the country is
prepared to accept Therefore We must in
duce the people TO voluntarily put them
selves in a position TO defend their homes
and country. The Primrose League can
do much TO foster the creation OF rifle
clubs. II once the feeling could be propa-
gated that IL is the duty Of every able
bodied Englishman to make himself COM
petent to meet an invader we would have
defensive force which would make the
chances of an assailant so bad that no as
sailant would appear
This statement was also greeted with
loud applause. After a resolution urging
British subjects to prepare In times of
peace so to be ready to play their part
IN time OF imperial emergency had been