Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-15

every word of the momentous utterance
which was coming.
In the spirit of the house was deep COM
motion; on the surface calm.
Mr.. Balfour rose to speak.
His face bore traces of some sort of suf-
fering, like that of a man who has passed
through the travail of a great ordeal. This
was partly due to a want of sleep, occa-
stoned by the stress of the last few days.
Under his eyes were the semicircles of ia
tigue. But apart from this, the face which
he turned absently round the house before
he spoke was changed: the diettante poll
tician, the charming literary amateur, the
ennuye 1ounger-these familiar phases of
his personality were no longer in evidence.
Care sat on his faded cheek, gravity
heavy as the world.
He made haif-turn toward the speaker,
and as he said Sir" and paused, his neck
stiffened with dignity.
Sir" he repeated, 81 need make no
apology at the present time for interrupting
the ordinary routine of the business of this
house. Some adumbration of what I have
to say must have already entered the mind
of every one present. And yet, perhaps,
not even the most far-seeing and the most
prophetic of us may have been able to fore
cast the gravity of the announcement which
1t is now my duty to make to this house
and to the people of Britain.
THE recent course of affairs in China is
known TO all of us and to all the world. 1t
has not been suggested, even by our enc
mics, that our policy in that country, either
one. The enterprise of our citizens, in
deed In the ordinary course of commerce,
secured for them the greater part of the
foreign trade of the land; but with that
strong and large bounty of our race, which
resembles nothing so much the free air
of heaven and the breadths of the ocean
which II inhabits. We have left 1t open TO
every man on the face of the earth to go
and do likewise by engaging in free COM
petition with ourselves. Later on we Sc
cured the appointment of an Englishman
TO the controllership of the imperial mari
time customs in China; in view of the fact
that trade With China amounted to a
sum of ten millions sterling annually, this
was a step dictated by ordinary caution.
But what has been the consequence to other
nations? This: That our nominee has inn
partially distributed all subordinate posts
in his gift to French, German, Russian and
Engiishman alike, regardless of nationality,
regardful only of merit. Such has been
our action in the past. With regard to re-
cent events, we know, and our enemies
know, that the government of this country
has, in its holy passion for the maintenance
OF the peace of the world, submitted to af-
fronts to wrongs, to insults even, which
would. weeks ago, have driven any of the
less restrained ministries of continental EN-
pires into declaration of war.
Even on the points where undoubtedly
many an Englishman would have consider
ed that concession was derogatory to honor,
we made concessions. We asked only of
Germany that Tientsin should be free
open to British enterprise; of Russia, that
the valley of the Yangtse river should
main neutral country. Without threats.
with ne~exhibition of heat, we claimed these
rights.
1.-THE reply of France, of Germany and of
Russia has been a declaration of hostili-
ties
Two hours ago their respective ambas-
sailors placed notice of war in the hands
of the government.
The house received this announcement
with perfect stiffness, in which horror
contended with indignation. Mr. Balfour
continued
TT is impossible to doubt that this vast
combination of power is the result of will
full and wicked conspiracy, aimed primarily
at the British empire, but aimed In the
end, against the progress and happiness of
the human race 1t comes upon US, like
bolt from unclouded SKIES at an hour when
the democracies of the world recovering
from centuries of mutual bloodshed, begin
to catch glimpses of the dawn of a better
day. end look forward TO the yet fairer
fruits of the peace which they enjoy. Sir,
the declaration of this war is a blasphemy
against mankind, and can proceed only
from those mysterious powers of evil which
seem ever to stand ready to mar the bless
edness of the earth. Away now, for many
a day, with the fair aspects of our modern
life, the quietude of homes, and the I'M
troubled flow of things. With one thought,
at least every Engiishman may console
himself, as he goes forth to bear his part
TO blame Not to blame-and yet not all
unprepared / think sir, to cofnport herself
with high valor. as OF old, In this the great
est crisis OF her august history. Nor is ii
probable that there lives single English
man, who, even In this hour of trial. can
doubt that that same Providence which has
led our race from small beginnings to the
empire of half the earth, will. In its dark
purposes, conduct it yet further upon its
destiny of triumph and glory"
Mr.. Balfour sat down in the midst OF a
cheer which burst from every member of
the house-Engiish, Scotch. Irish and Welsh
lin very tempest OF loyal passion. The
assembly leaped to its feet, and volley on
volley of enthusiasm filled the chamber with
souId. Exultation, for the moment, took
the place of dignity; and there ensued an
exaggeration of one of those whiriwind !
scenes which have occurred at intervals. !
Members bounded across the breadth of the |
house; in the midst of the tumult, Mr..
Burns was seen at the treasury bench, |
shaking the hand Of Mr.. Chamberlain; two /
Irish members were sobbine in kind of |
hysteria to each other; and Mr.. Labouchere.
forgetting, was shouting to Sir Michael
~ r. N 49, a.