New-York tribune., 1908-12-22
TRIBUTE TO MILTON.
ambassador Reid at Mansion House
Dinner in London.

At the Mansion House tercentenary Milton
dinner in London. December 9. Ambassador
Reid spoke as follows:
1t has been made my duty to submit a toast
arising naturally out of this COmmemoration.
It is to the chief magistrate Of the city that
had the honor to give Milton to England ana
the world.
Has it occurred to you to consider how mar
row are the geographical limits within which
the very highest literary distinction has ap-
peared? The world counts but five or six poets
of supreme genius-if so many. As 10 three of
them there is never much question. OF those
three one came from little island in the Med
iterranean, and the other two from a not large
island. shrouded by these Northern fogs- Thus
in the sovereignty OF poetry. those two Islands
outweigh every continent and all arCnipelasoes.
This great city of London is famous for many
things. but it has no fame more widely dlnused
and more permanent than as the support OF
Shakespeare during his professional activity,
and as the birthplace Of Milton. and his home
Having said this. | might properly enough close
at once by proposing the toast intrusted to me.
Still. in this spot. one of the greatest lit
erary and publishing cePtres of the world, If
something to do with the press could hardly
be excused on such occasion If ne did not ct
least mention the universal Indebtedness of man
kind to the author of the plea for Unlicensed
Printing" That was at the beginning of the
long struggle for the greatest liberating and ele
waiting influence Of modern civilization. the free-
dom of the press: but even then its author wa
keenly alive to the inSdiOuS danger that always
dogs the steps of this freedom. You recall his
book: who kills matn kills reasonable Crea-
ture. Gods image: but he who destroys good
book kills reason itself When you remember
that. remember also that he took an instant care
diSclaim the remotest thought of introducing
license while he opposed licensing: and that sub
sequently he denounced in good. set terms those
That bavI for freedom in their senseIess: mood.
and still revolt when truth would set them free
License they mean, when they cry liberty.
For who loves that must first be wise and good.
one thiuE-I ought to mention This great
poets conception Of ordered liberty in the press
and in all things, inspired the men with whom
he acted. They were the men that ruled Eng
land Their. the men that ColOuized New Eng
land and helped found the Western Republic. I
like to fancy that he might have had some pre-
mOnitiOn Of the coming events. and that. at any
rate. later on. the old bards sightless eyes So "
in clearer outlines the wider reach and meaning
in the vision of his prime You are all familiar
with it:-"Methinks | see in my mind a noble
and puissant nation. rousing herself like a
strong after sleep, and shaking her in
Vncible locks. Methinks ] see her as an eagle
mewing her mighty youth and ktndling her un-
dazZled eyes ct the full midday beam"
My Lord Mayor. this London poet of yours
once spoke of Gods revealing Himself to His
servants, and as His manner is. first to His
Englishmen. He then burst out about London
itself: Behold now this vast city: a city Of
refuge the Mansion House OF liberty. encom-
passed and surrounded with His protection d"
Long may these words describe II, We do right
day. gentlemen, while celebrating his ami
Versary, to remember also his city. his home IN
prosperity and in adversely, which now three
hundred years after he first saw the light still
reverently cherishes his fame and guards his
tomb. We all salute that city. in the person
of its honored and worthy chief magistrate I
propose TO you the last regular toast The Lord
Mayor"