Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-01

NEW YORK, March 31.-Earl Grey, gov
ernor general of Canada, was the guest of
honor tonight at the Pilgrims dinner held
at the Waldorf-Astoria. At the reception
which preceded the dinner many of the
most prominent and distinguished men of
the city were present.
Earl Grey arrived in company with his
host. Joseph H. Choate. The other mem
bers of the English party were Lady Grey.
Lady Evelyn Grey, their daughter; Lady
Alexander Beauclerk. their niece, sister
of the Duke of st. Adams; Col. Hamburg
Williams, military secretary; Sir Frederick
W. Borden and Earl Grey's private secre-
tary. Arthur F. Sladen. Mr.. Choate pre-
sided A brief invocation was delivered by
Archbishop Farley.
Shortly after s o'clock bugIe blast
brought the formalties of the reception
to close and the guests assembled in
the banquet hall in the grand ball room.
Mr.. Jessup escorted the earl and Mr..
Choate and Eiihu Root, Secretary of
State, came in arm in arm. The scene
was given dash of color by the uni
forms of some of the guests. The tables
We're decorated with sprays of trailing
arbutus, the first flowers found by the
Pilgrims when they landed at Plymouth
Rock: while to add to the international
aspect of the dinner stands OF small
British flags naval and military, were
ertwined on each of the tables. Among
the other guests were Gov. Higgins,
Archbishop Farley. Gen. Horace Porter,
Count Gleichen, Maj. Gen Fred D. Grant,
Lieut.. Gov. Bruce. DR.. S. Weir Mitchell.
ex-Mayor Low. Sir Caspar Purdon Clarke,
Samuel L. Clemens. Rear Admiral Cogh-
Ian and John G. Carlisle.
A letter was received from Bishop Potter.
dated Rome. March f6. expressing his re-
greet that he could not attend. Bishop Pot
ter is president of the Pilgrims:
The Presidents Regrets.
The following letter was received from
President Roosevelt:
THE White House, Washington.
1.-THE President regrets his inability to ac-
cept the courteous invitation to attend the
dinner OF the Pilgrims of the United
States"
Lord Roberts sent the following cable
gram:
'Warmest greetings Hope to welcome
American Pilgrims in London May 20.
Roberts"
Lord Roberts is president of the English
Pilgrims.
Maj. Gen. H. c. Corbin, Ambassador
Nhitelaw Reid and others sent messages.
Ambassador Reid cabled: II am sure you
could pay the compliment to no one more
sincerely showing the best and most neigh
borly relations between our two countries"
The toast THE President and the King
was drunk standing while the orchestra
prayed Inc star SpanSied Banner and
God Save the King" Then came toast
to The Right Honorable Earl Grey, gov
eriIor general of Canada" to which the earl
responded.
Earl Grey's Address
Earl Grey expressed his thanks for the
generous welcome extended to him, but ac-
cepted It, he said, as compliment to this
country's neighbor, Canada. He recognized
too, that the dinner was in some degree an
expression, of the feelings his hearers en-
tertained toward King Edward, who is
loved and revered this side of the At
lantc because he Is known Queen Vic
torla was known before him. as the true
and constant friend Of America and to be
deeply interested in your well-being and
prosperity.
1t has been my great good fortune" the
earl continued, Ito make the personal &C
quaintance of the President, and I can as
sure you that the magnificent traits of char
acter he is constantly displaying are as
greatly admired and appreciated throughout
the British empire as they are by you at
home"
The earl then paid a personal tribute to
Mr.. Choate and praised the services he per-
formed as ambassador to Great Britain. He
recalled by name the other American rep
resentatives at the court of st. James dur
ing the last thirty years. paying high trib-
ute to their lofty character and ability He
then alluded to repeated visits he had made
to the United States and dilated upon the
pleasure they had always given. Continu-
ing, the earl said:
Loves the American People.
Mr.. Choate has referred in manner
that 1 much appreciate of my restoration
to you of the picture which for 100 years
had been the most honored and most inter
esting possession in my English home. Why
do I restore the picture? Because I love
equity tells me that there are higher laws
than ahe law Of possession and because /
believe that neither England nor America
can fulfill their high mission to themselves
or to the world unless we approach the
consideration of every problem affecting our
relation to each other. not from the narrow,
selfish and provincial standpoint of what
America and England each of them do for
themselves alone, but for the higher stand
point of what we all can do for England
America and the world.
Coming, as 1 do, from Canada, may
tell you what I know you viii be glad TO
hear? We have safely embarked our ma
tional ship on the ocean of enormous de-
velopments and in order to enable US to
realize as quickly as possible the magnif-
cent destiny that awaits us we hope you
VIII allow us to continue To draw largely
on your friendly and powerful assistance.
Annexation an Impossibility.
MFR. Choate chaffed US the other day at
every Canadian from the prime minister to
the youngest enfranchised citizen OF the
dominion to believe that If the nineteenth
century belonged to the United States, the
twentieth century belongs TO Canada. Yes
gentlemen. this is the stimulating faith of
the people whom l represent. Any idea of
the possible annexation of Canada by the
United States is secuted by us i'm
possibility as great you would regard
the annexation of the United States by
Canada"
The earl then spoke of the part Cana
dams played In the upbuiiding of the United
States, saying there are 2,S27 900 persons of
Canadian birth or descent In this country,
and that French Canadians were the found
ers of Chicago, st. Louis, Pittsburg, New
Orleans. Detroit, st. Paul and Milwaukee
He continued:
so great was the sympathy felt IN Can
ada for the blue coats of the north that
10000 young Canadians left their homes
and their work and marched to your as
sistance I'm order that they might help you
in your hour of struggle to achieve your
national unity.