ENGLAND’S PRIME MINISTER ON THE PERPLEXING PROBLEMS OF TO-DAY.
By T.
At the annual banquet of the lord mayor of London, November 9, the Marquis of Salisbury made some most significant statements, among which are the following:— “A succession of events abroad has occasioned grave anxiety to the ministry for a year past.” In expressing his regrets because of the murder of the empress of Austria he announced that Great Britain had accepted an invitation to take part in a conference which would be called to determine upon the measures which it is possible to take in order to blot out anarchy, and added that at the same time he was bound to say that he had no great hope that legislation would abate “this horrible, monstrous affliction of humanity.” Turning to the crisis with France, the premier remarked:— “We have had quite recently to consider whether the question of a European war was not very near. But, with great interest and consideration, the result has turned out happily, through the great judgment and common sense displayed by France under circumstances of unusual difficulty, which, I think, have relieved Europe of a very dangerous and threatening storm. “While matters were in suspense, the government was necessarily forced to take precautions that it should not be taken unawares. These precautions were most prompt and effective, but the immediate necessity for them has passed off. “There has been some surprise on both sides of the channel at the fact that these preparations have not suddenly ceased. But it is impossible to stop them at a moment’s notice.” Referring to the war preparations in general, he asked his hearers to look at the state of the world. He said:— “The czar has invited a congress to provide for the disarmament of the world, but while we offer our heartiest tribute to his motives, and are willing to assist and sympathize in every way until the happy day when his aspirations are crowned with success we must still provide precautions needful to counteract the dangers surrounding us. In some respects this era, this great epoch in the history of man, is marked by unhappy omens. It is the first year in which the mighty force of the American republic has been introduced among nations whose dominions are expanding and whose instruments to a certain extent are war. “I am not implying the slightest blame. Far from it. I am not refusing sympathy to the American republic in the difficulties through which it has passed; but no one can deny that its appearance among factors Asiatic at all events, and possibly in European diplomacy, is a grave and serious event which may not conduce to the interests of peace, tho I think in any event it is likely to conduce to the interests of Great Britain. [Cheers.]” “But with this impressed upon us, nevertheless, the subject matter of war is terribly prevalent on all sides. We see nations decaying, whose government is so bad that it can neither maintain the power of self-defense or retain the affections of its subjects, and when this occurs, there are always neighbors impelled by some motive—it may be the highest philanthropy or it may be the natural desire of empire—to contest as to who shall be heir to the falling nation; and that is the cause of war.” Lord Salisbury then alluded to the rapidity and unexpectedness with which wars break out, and said:— “If Great Britain ever permits her self-defenses to weaken, her whole empire will come clattering to the ground. It is, therefore, impossible in the present state and temper of the world to intermit our naval and military precautions.” Great Britain is one of the principal factors in European politics. And her prime minister stands where he is made to feel the storm blasts of war. The foregoing paragraphs show that he has no high hopes of a universal peace. And in view of what the world presents to-day, who can reasonably get a different view? It should be evident to all that the nations are gathering for Armageddon. There will be no permanent peace for this earth until the coming of the Prince of Peace in the clouds of heaven. T.