The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-11-12
GUILD HALL SCENE OF BRIL-.
LIANT PAGEANT.
LORD SAlISBuRY'S SPEECH
English Primer seizes Opportunity to
Define Position in South
Africa.

London, Nov. 9.-The lord mayors
banquet at the Guild hall tonight was
a spectacular close of the days OF
festivity, which marked the coming
into office of the new lord mayor of
London.
The historic building was the scene
of a brilliant pageant in which modern
and medieval sights were strangely
mingled. A gathering of 1000 OF the
most influential citizens of London,
including the heads of the various gov-
eminent departments, gave an oppor-
tunity for a loyal demonstration OF
which the government vas not slow
to take advantage.
The presence of Lord Salisbury at
forded an excellent excuse for reiter-
ating the attitude of the government
toward the Sotuh African contro-
versy. The response of the great aud
fence in the banquet hall might be
described as satisfactorily loyal but
could hardly be called enthusiastic.
The banquet was preceded by the
customary reception in the Guild hall
library, where Sir Joseph Dimsdale,
in his quaint official robes welcomed
fine ministers and the various officials.
Unlike last years reception, when the
war fever was at it's height, the mil
itary were decidedly a secondary
feature. Lord Roberts was conspicu-
GUS by his absence and the war office
was merely represented by one of the
under secretaries.
The feature of the evening was Lord
Salisbury's speech in response to the
toast His Majesty's Ministers Re
ferring to the progress of the war in
South Africa, the premier said: 1T
is pleasant to record that the peace
of the world has been so little dis
turbed by the events of the last two
years. Half a century ago we would
not have found such a correct and pa
cifc attitude on the part of all OF the
great powers. 1t is a sign of increas
ing international amity and under
standing also that the cloud OF the
past three weeks over the Mediter
ranean has so lightly passed away
Fifty years ago this would not have
been So"
Touching upon South African devel
opments in another part of his speech
Lord Salisbury said: Il strongl!
%deprecate the spirit of pessimism 81
frequently heard in the utterances o
our public men as to the val in whicl
we are engaged. Unlike the wars o
former years, no longer does the car
ture of the enmy's capital and the dis
sipation of his field force cOnStitut
a conclusive victory. We are nov
confronted by a system of guerrill
war, which must be slowly and effet
lively stamped out. We are progre:
sing slowly, perhaps, but steadily.
81 cannot take the public who'll
into the confidence of the government
1t would be most imprudent publicl
to state all we are doing, weekly an
monthly at the front; but what l en-
phatically declare is that whateve
delays are encountered are due nett
er to the lack of earnestness and abb
ity of our generals in the field, nor
neglect to comply with all Of the
demands on the part of the home go
eminent.
eve have been subject to mut
vague and indefinite criticism; b
our bitterest opponents have not bee
able to point out any tangible defe'
any definite cause of complaint.
Il deeply regret the ravages of tt
war in the colonies to which we a
anxious to accord the fullest prac
cable measure of self-governmel
But we have had neighbors in Sou
Africa whose conduct for years pa
has been a menace to the stability
that section of our empire. Now
are engaged in removing this mena
and we are determined to do it so
f~ectually that it will never require
ing again."
This declaration was received W
cordial but by no means enthusias
applause.
LAST DEMAND GRANTED.