Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-02-07

gravity of the popularity of his posi-
ton, and perhaps it was tais uncon-
scious and unstudied seriousness that
lent him the tone of weight and judg-
ment so essential to the cause he had
in hand. 1t has always been difficult
to arouse the interest of the house oil
matters of British policy in Persia.
Once aroused it may, it is true, reach
fever heat with remarkable rapidly.
but the Introductory stages offer that
worst danger to the earnest speaker
the dread of an apathetic audience.
But from this consideration Loder, by
his sharp consciousness OF personal
difficulties, was given immunity.
Pitching his voice in that quietly
masterful tone that beyond all others
compels attention he took up his sub
ject and dealt with it with dispassion-
ate force. With great SIKH he touched
on the steady southwark advances of
Russia into Persian territory from the
distant days when, by curious irony
of fate, Russian and British enterprise
combined to make entry into the coun-
duke of Moscovy to the present hour,
when this great power of Russia-long
Bince alienated by interests and desires
from her former co-operator-had tax
en- a step which in the eyes of every
thinking man must possess deep sig
nificance.
With his usual quiet persistence he
pointed out the peculiar position of
Meshed in the distant province of
Khorassan, it's vast distance from the
Persian gulf, round which British in
terests and influence center, and the
consequently alarming position of hun
dreds of traders who, in the security
of British sovereignty, are fighting
their way upward from India. from
Afghanistan, even from England her
SELF
Following up his point, he dilated on
these subjects Of the British crown
who, cut off from adequate assistance.
can only turn in personal or CONNER
cial peril to the protective power of
the nearest consulate. Then, quietly
demanding the attention of his hear
ers, he marshaled fact after fact to
demonstrate the isolation and made
quacy of consulate so situated; the
all but arbitrary power of Russia, who
in her new occupation of Meshed had
only two considerations to withhold
her from open aggression-the knowl-
edge of England as very consider
able, but also very distant, power;
the knowledge of Persia as an immi-
nent but wholly impotent, factor in
the case.
Having stated his opinions, he re-
verted to the motive of his speech-his
desire to put forward strong protest
against the adjournment of the house
without an assurance from the govern
ment that immediate measures would
be taken to safeguard British interests
in Meshed and throughout the province
Of Khorassan.
The immediate outcome Of Loder's
speech was all that his party had de
sired. The effect on the house had been
marked, and when, no satisfactory re-
Spouse coming to his demand, he had
in still more resolute and insistent
terms called for a division on the mo-
ton for adjournment, the result had
been an appreciate fall in the govern
ment majority.
To Loder himself the realization that
he had at last INDICATED and justified
himself by Individual action had q pc
culiar effect. Els position had been al
tered IL one remarkable particular.