New-York tribune., 1909-07-12
THE FOURTH in LONDON
Ambassador Reds Remarks at the
american Society Dinner.

At the Independence Day dinner OF the America,
Society in London, held July 5. responding to tha
toast "The American Ambassador" proposed BY a.
Duke of Argyll Mr.. Reid said:
These too generous words and your too genar
GUS reception Of them fill me with gratitudA-
and with confusion. One thing only can fsal
that have done to earn them. have an
least tried to do my duty Let IL go at thar:
and since the words Of the American Ambassa
dor are by this time a very. very old story to
brief. N's'a
We see with the greatest pleasure our British
guests at this celebration Of the Fourth OF JuIv
Nothing could be more gratifying than their
presence, and nothing could be more significant
It is the visible. palpable sign that the War OF
the Revolution, like your War between King and
Parliament, and like our War about Slavery
has quite passed into the passiOnless domain Of
history and also, ike each Of the others, is now
regarded by both sides as common benefit TO
both. II fixed colonial policy forever; il gave
an incaculable stimulus to the best aspirations
Of the whole race and opened TO it opportunities
for incredible expansion and leadership. ! say
for the whole race. for L brush aside neg
IigibIe all the trivial talk occasionally hears
that some adnfxture of kindred blood from the
Continent has materially changed that race on
the other side of the Atlantic Every country
has its admxtures of blood; but its race is de-
terrniued not merely by the predominant strain.
but by its history it's language. the rights it has
established. the law it Obeys and the God IL
worships. The whole race, then, is immeas-
urabIy the better for the Fourth Of July;-it has
a wider outlook, loftier ambition, a farther
reach, a more distinct and unquestioned leader
ship ffrmer grip on the future
We were speaking Of our British guests Thers
is one of them who is already American by adop-
ton. Il Is true the adoption occurred in Canada,
where the people took their successful Governor
General to their hearts; but that little. invisible
boundary line doesn't amount TO much when il
comes to considering the American spirit With
this guest, however, we nave anotner ue. we
Americans have long memories our lrlends.
There was a time. in the early SOS, when We
felt the need of friends. We had many here;
but among them all two voices rang out hks
+--rr he -1fC
men then using our English tongue One, of
course was John Bright; the other, pTtmHS inter-
pareS. was the Macalum More, the chief OF the
Campbells that illustrtous Duke OF Argyll whose
honored son and successor we nave Deen proud
to hear tonight proposing the health OF tns
President of the United States
We all have special pleasure, too. in the pres
euce OF another guest. a most mt repTesentatlFs
of one OF the very strongest DOnds between u
the Common Law. guest whom we respect as
Judge and admire as a man. the LORD Cnlet
Justice of England 1 must not partlculaIlz9
farther, but may rnentlon at least lne seLtlslSc
ton with which welcome the man VINO mas
furnished the last bond TO unite Us, TO whose
action we owe it that the same penny WHICH
carries a letter from London 10 Liverpool VIII
now carry il from any part or Great BTlJaln %
anv part OF the United States; and the satlsfac-
tfon with which we welcome also the man VINO
has given US the latest occasion Tor common
pride in the achievements OF the race, s Ihe Ilas
who has made the latest addition 10 Ihe map q
the world and whom all our ATcuC eApiOIeiS
must now salute as the foremost
Passing from British To foreign guests. may
say how proud are in the case OF every one
of them to receive their fellcitations on our
birthday. and particularly from the Ambassa-
dor of that great Eastern Empire. which we our
selves had the honor Of first introducing 70 ne
Western WOrld-the ally OF Great Britain ana
now as always our friend as We are AeIo' 'uo
Empire of Japan
our last celebration occurred in the midst oI
a revolution The government OF the CniISt
states as YOU all know is organized TeVOlu-
ton ORGANIZED for automatic recurrence every
four years. When we met last the reV0iulloh
was on and besides the panic still fingered lou
will remember were confident even theh
that the country would prosper in spite OF oOtn,
though il was admitted that there might %
some confusion until the tariff was readjusted-
Well. the revolution ended happily the pros
Derity did come and even the confusion has 1os
failed us We are at this moment IN the throes
Of the regular tariff turmoil Every man that
in debt and every man that is dtscOntented nss
himself unto some slim David IN SONS
cave of AdulIam. and is raising the usual OUT
cry against the special duties that trouble hiIn-
am not here to say they are right. or wrong.
Amid the confusion. however, you will not Oo-
ieCt to be reminded. that under no other tariR
In the world has greater or more general pros
perity come to any people To no other tarin
system is the world generally Offering that
sinCerest form of fiattery to be found in inlita-
ton. I have even heard that there Is a whisper
Of imitation here in the very shrines OF the
Gospel of Free Trade. But that is contentious
subject. and what l have heard may be all
wrong.
The assurance here last year. as We have seen.
has been fully justified. that prosperity was
coming back and that the only danger was that
Ii would come with a rush. Well. now venture
to add that the tariff turmoil viii soon be over,
and that an era of growth and greater
prosperity is beginning We shall continue to
yrumble. of course. Now. as always. shall
show the divine discomfort Of democracy. Re-
DubuCS never but only to be blest Our
abOr is highly paid and a free any in
The world, and it will continue to enjoy telling
is how it is oppressed. Our wealth Is revelling
n a perfect luxury of protest over new and IN
offensive forms of taxation and against
egislatiOn which persecutes property. Never
heless the fact remains, and all pr0uds
If II. that nowhere else have there been greater
opportunities in the past for the accumulation
If wealth. and nowhere greater security for Il
when acquired. Nowhere else do these Opp0r-
permanent. or more secure in the future.
So we are prosperous at home and discon-
ented only according To the law Of being
abroad we are at peace with all the world We
ire well entered upon new Administration BY
great Chief Magistrate. trained from his
arliest youth. like your own statesman-King. to
consider the continuance of these conditions We
lave been describing as the highest objects OF
and to strive for the prosperity
Il the people and peace with honor the
rowning glOries for a great career
On this 134th birthday of our Nation we havs
easOn then to regard the past with pride. tne
resent with satisfaction. the future with conn-
enCe, and TO respond with all our hearts to the
-reat toast of the evening, which I now nave
he honor TO propose. THE Day We Celebrate