The Washington herald., 1907-07-05

lsDluOils July - I AlI Aui > NoA beAAAk ANNAAsc
hall in London was more than ever In
adequate 10 accommodate those who
sought 20 attend the American SoCiety's
celebration of independence Day. Five
hundred guests sat down under the chair
manship of Newton Crane.
Sir Mortimer Durand proposed the
health of President Roosevelt II long
and able speech about the relations be-
tween the two countries, which did not
contain the slightest personal reference to
the President.
The essential feature of Ambassador
Reid's speech in proposing the toast. The
day we celebrate" was the most en-
phatc conceivable repudiation Of all ru-
mors Of possible war between the United
States and Japan. Dwelling on American
peacefulness, he said:
I'VE go about with no chips on our
shoulders. We are not hunting for quar-
rels, either for pride or profit We can
afford to be slow to take offense. We
don't want anybody's lands or anybody's
goods We don't even want TO make
money by fighting for a. At the same
time we are reasonably sure to take care
oc our own. and we should probably be
found prepared 10 do so with adequate
energy if anybody thought it a good thing
10 pick a quarrel with US.
No One 10 Quarrel with Us.
But nobody is going TO. nobody in
America, nobody in Europe. nobody in
Asia. and last Of all. are the two great
nations. which have been friends from
the beginning and which hold similar
positions in their respective spheres,
going TO hunt for a quarrel about small
outbreaks in restaurants or barrooms.
| however much such incidents are 10 be
guarded against and depl0red."
Mr. Clemens Mark Twain. who re-
sponded, had a huge welcome. For
twenty minutes he kept his audience
shaking with laughter. Referring 10 the
mischief caused by fireworks celebrations
he said:
throughout the day We honor the
Fourth: when night comes W dishonor H.
We destroy more property on that night
| than the whole United States was worth
hundred and twenty-five years ago"
Tells of Uncte's Death.
He told how he had suffered the loss
of an uncle IN Chicago. as good an uncle
as he had ever had. and he had a lot
| This uncle opened his mouth 10 express
/ patriotism when a rocket went down his
throat, and before he could ask for
glass Of water to quench H. the thing
scattered him all over forty-fve States
/ THAT was really true Twenty-four hours
later it was raining buttons on the At
lantic seaboard.
He also told how he had waived prece-
dence in making his speech at a banquet
late on a Saturday night in favor Of a
clergyman, who pleaded that If he spoke
after Mark he would miss his train, in
YOlying his breaking the Sabbath.
Mark said that he agreed, thereby los
ing his train and consequently. for the
| first time in his life. ne broke the Sab
bath. and. he added, in a tone of solemn
pathOs: = have never kept it since"
Did Not Get Ascot Cup.
Recurring to the stolen Ascot Cup. he
said he regretted that his many denials
had not convinced the British public that
he did not steal II, so he might just as
well admit that he did. After all il was
not much harm. THE British people. %
he continued. have been trying for more
than forty years TO take away a cup OF
ours and they need not make so much
trouble about it when l get into the busi-
ness myself"
In n more serious vein the speaker paid
a tribute to Great Britain for what she
had conferred on America, saying:
1T was our gray-haired, venerable, and
revered mother, England, who gave US
our first Fourth when King John signed
the Magma Charta."
He detailed four great historic steps
toward freedom. which he described as
English fourihs Of July, from which
America had benefited.
'The last" he declared, was born al
Philadelphia in 177G. 1t was English 1t
was not American, for the Declaration of
Independence was written by an English
subject.
All Signcrs English.
Every name signed to It was the name
of "a British subject and there was not
an American in America, except the In.
dans out on the plains. The Americans
did not begin until seven years later.
I'VE have one Fourth which is abso-
lutely our own. the proclamation issued
forty years ago by Lincoln.
Lest we forget. let US always call tC
mind that we owe these things to Eng
land, and let us be able to say to Old
England: You gave US our Fourth OF
July; you gave us our Declaration oi
independence. which is the charter of our
rights. You, the venerable mother of lib
erty. and the protector of AnglO-Saxor
freedom-yOu gave us these. things, and
we do most earnestly thank you fol
them "