Son of a stirring age, when East and West Receded the horizons of the world When Burope's daring mariners unfurled Their sails in many a far-off, venturous quest When, seeking Ind, Columbus blindly pressed Through unknown oceans, whose long waves uncaned Op unknown shores, where unknown isles impearled In sunny seas smiled welcome to the guest He is Columbia's sponsor; with acclaim Posterity has honoured him. To you, Who found what he but vainly; sought, is due From after-years an equal. meed of fame.
So from the hero's laurel weave we too A wreath of glory in Da Gama's name, $38 THE NEW POLICY IN THE FAR EAst.
Tne first leading article in the Spectator of the 9th of April has the above heading, and it begins with a reference to the speech: of Mr.-A. J. Balfour-in the House of Commons, in which the lities, for all the world, including, of course, the United States; it has already secured three more open ports for the commerce of mankind, and it still adheres to its resolve that no Power shall touch the grand valley of the Yangtze." The Cabinet of Lord Salisbury were afraid, after all their protestations, to maintain their first policy in the face of Russia's opposition and this is what it really comes to, whatever explaining away may be attempted. They allowed Russia to take Port Arthur and Talienwan, and then seeing that this gave Russia practical domination at Pekivg, "they have demanded and obtained a naval port capable of being strongly fortified as a counterpoise to Port Arthur. Weihaiwei, or Port Bdward as we "hops in future it will be called here, Chinese names producing in English minds something of a comic or degrading effect, is declared by the naval experts whom Government consults, and also by their able critic, Lord Charles Beresford, to-be well adapted for a marine arsenal, and a sufficient base from which to resist the placing of inconvenient: pressure upon Peking. It enables us, in fact, to maintain and supply a fleet in' the Gulf of Pechili, which will keep that important arm of the sea free from foreign domination, and thus restrict Russia to such pressure as she can exercise by means of an army conveyed by land. Such a fleet, with such a harbour of provision and refuge, will give us vast influence over the policy of Japan, and will also incidentally greatly strengthen our hands should France as the ally of Russia, or Germany for reasons of European policy, seek to assist in realising Russia's possible designs. The new policy, in fact, although it does not restore our old- lonely dominance in the Far East, does leave us in the position
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.