To the Editor of the "Nortn-Cutxa Darcy News."
Sm,—I did not like to divert' the attention of the large meeting yesterday from the real and stirring eloquence of the chief speaker and of those who preceded and followed. Neither did I wish to hinder by waste of time the practic: resolutions which adopted. But give now, ina few words, what T should hi to have said on that memorable occasion. st, T deemed it quite consistent my sacred office and profess and support the British There have been grave e: in the past, one at least affecting j but T speak with dp the present, when, without animad on other flags, T'assert that the they of land does mean everywhere the advent ud the abiding and the development of justice wit of civilisation, and of And that which outshine Ss suoner or later Light of secondly I wished t" sympathise with the irish Empire; and perhaps I should ada with the world' T belong to a divi si the subjects of the King, in the Far who have been sneered at and criticism think on very insutlicient ground, as living lives of ease and, when trouble comes, rix sheltering themselves behind or on hoard of the "inevitable gunboat." I will net discuss the subject now; I dismiss it with the one remark that what the missionaries have valued, under God, is our British citizenship, and the consciousness that though, a8 is the case with hundreds of my friends and colleagues. sears of toil may be spent for ever out of sight of the flag th love, they know, and we know, that rights secured fur us and our people by Treaty, without violence and unjust bluster, an unwarrantable interference with other rights, will yet with calm strong insistence, be insisted upon.
But _my sympathy lies here. It is the rear Empire, and no longer the feeble isolated missionary, which clamour for the "inevitable" the "indispensable gunboat! We must have and maintain our navy however trying it may be to the nerves of the world to see the craft everywhere.
Thirdly I should have ventured to rally one of the eloquent speakers on the very imperfect description given by him of the welcome afforded to the blue jackets and marines of His Majest Navy visiting this port. My experience, and it is a long one. leads me to remember that since the days of 300 tea clippers la fen times only one steamer and ish man-of-war, it has not been wall texts alone and lemonade" that we nave offered to our guests, but a hearty welcome anda warmone, and comfortable room and a warm and sociable tea-fight " follo ed by good music and wholesome entertainment. And then, best welcome of all, the assurance of God's presence and grace and love here, ax in the old homes they have left behind; nnd the promise of His strength which alone can surely keep them from the temptations to sin and dishonour which, say what on will, do meet eye and ear mushy in some streets of Shanghai Such a welcome, together with the advan-age already available toa large extent in the Coffee House, and soon to be more largely provided there and elsewhere, of cheap and comfortable lodging for the nights of leave on shore, surely deserve higher commendation than that accorded yesterday.
Lastly I should like to have emphasised the fact that deep and keen interest is felt
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.