Jan. 31.
Tae luncheon party given at the Union Club last) Thursday, as subsequently reported in our columns, was one of those functions which one contemplates with very great pleasure. The club itself is an admirable institution and its raison d'étre,.that of bringing Chinese and men of other nationalities into familiar and friendly intercourse, is one for which we have the greatest admiration. May it live long and prosper. China has been kind to Sir Charles Addis and he reciprocates with a warm friendship for the Chinese people and a sincere liking for the country. The words he addressed to the Chinese guests, will, we hope, be echoed in many Chinese newspapers and do much to remove a great deal of misunderstanding respecting the objects of the Consortium and the attitude of British merchants towards this country. It is almost inconceivable, and yet it is true, that there are many Chinese who still have the idea that Britons have an inherent objection to the Republican form of government. It is true that we live under a constitutional monarchy and that we choose. to have it so. Doubtless there are people in Great Britain who theoretically prefer republicanism to a monarchy, but the number of those who would like to take steps to give effect fo their beliefs is absolutely negligible. The reason for this is not, as some take pleasure in saying, that we are constitutionally conservative and opposed to progress, but that we are sincerely convinced that we have more real democracy in Great Britain and more true liberty than any country on earth, republican or other. We have great traditions to which we are affectionately attached and with which we would not willingly break. Our King and Queen are beloved by the people and the Prince of Wales is, in our esti-motion, the great Commoner and the. first gentleman in Europe. The unaffected pleasure with which the news that the King's only daughter is to marry a British subject has been received, is another proof that the old, bad ideas, held so strenuously in Victorian days, have been abandoned for ever and that the royal family regard themselves, and are regarded by the people as the permission.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.