The Washington herald., 1907-11-15
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER Is. 1907.
Jaunty Admirals and Other Things

One Of our Canadian contemporaries.
the Montreal Standard. inclnes to the
opinion that Rear Admiral Evans re-
marks at the banquet I'm New York at
which he was the guest Of honor a week
or two ago were altogether too ''jaunty.r
and says they would be impossible in the
case Of amy other naval admiral" .The
world" continues the Standard. under
stands youthful eaervescence. Lord Sails
bury smiled when Mr. Olney. Mr. Cleve-
lands Secretary OF War. told the British
foreign secretary that Britain would have
TO get of this northern continent. The
Secretary was so young. so immature. so
buoyant. as became a sturdy national
youngster. 'Shirt-sleeves' diplomacy comes
from youth and confidence. and the alb
sence Of the sense Of responsibility: and
when Admiral Evans remarked that no.
body could stop his fleet Il they wanted
TO. you picture young fellow with a
high color fresh and zestfuI and conf
dent with the overweening confidence of
first youth"
Aside from the trifing circumstances
that Mr.. Olney was Secretary Of State
that he never told Lord Salisbury that
Britain would have To get OF this north
ern continent that Admiral Evans did
not say nobody could stop his fleet. and
that he is almost old enough 20 be re-
tired, the statement OF alleged facts on
which the Standard bases its observa-
tions is quite accurate II IS somewhat
disappointing to find so close a neighbor
SO lily informed. and we feel more pain
on that account than because OF the i'm
putation that we. as nation. are youth
ful and little fresh" This charge has
been hurled at us so often that we are
quite accustomed TO It; and another rea-
son for not getting excited is that the
accusation has more or less Of basis
in truth. We are young, undoubtedly
As TO our "shirt-sIeeves' diplomacy. as
exemplified by the late John Hay. il
doubtless shocked the older nations at
first, though now they all practice il 10
a greater or lesser extent and realize
that. the question of morals aside. If is
vastly more effective than the old system
OF circUmlOcUtien. tergiversation, and
prevarication. Moreover. we have observ-
ed that the criticism Of our lack of age
Gnu Vul AtuutltCg 10 ue somewhat IN
dependent and infexible when our rights
are concerned, and to go as directly to
the point as possible, comes almost in
variably from nations which are younger
less populous. and, sometimes. less pro-
gressive than we are. \ part OF the
press and some Of the people Of two Of
England's principal self-governing colo
nies-Canada and Australia-are continu-
ally having their filings at our alleged
crudities and our supposed tendency to
boast, though we know Of no people on
earth who are prouder of their country
or who manifest their pride more plainly
than Canadians and Australians. And
here and now. just TO show there is no
hard feeling. we desire to say that in
both cases, but especially in the case Of
Canada. there is ample reason for pride
Finally. speaking Of the ''jaunty'' say
ings Of admirals. we invite the Standards
opinion Of the action Of Rear Admiral Sir
Percy Scott commander Of the English
first cruiser squadron, who, in prepara-
lions for the visit of the German EN-
peror. sent this order 20 two Of his ships:
''Paintwork appears 10 be more in demand than
gInncry. you had better come in in time TO look
pretty by the Sth instant"
II our contemporary experiences diff
Guilty in arriving at decision. the com
ment of Admiral Lord Charles Beresford.
who directed that the order be stricken
from the signal log. may help il.