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LORD HALDANE'S ADDRESS.
A rather stout, well-built gentleman about five feet ten, slightly stooped, clean-shaven and with a pleasant, smiling countenance, is Viscount Haldane, Lord High Chancellor, and one of the biggest men in Britain at the present day. Such is the description of Lord Haldane given by one of the Montreal daily papers at the time of his arrival in that city preparatory to delivering the annual address, published in this issue, before the American Bar Association. It was not with Lord Haldane's personal appearance, however, that those who were assembled to hear the annual address were greatly concerned, but with Lord Haldane, the scholar, philosopher, diplomat, and statesman, the man who is a real figure among the great ones in the world's political arena.
It is seldom indeed that such a large number of big, brainy men are found gathered together as was the case at the meeting of the American Bar Association; not only men of national, but of world-wide reputation, great and brilliant as they undoubtedly were, the Lord Chancellor of England stood head and shoulders above them all. This opinion must of necessity been forced upon the most skeptical of the visitors when listening to the brilliant address on “Higher Na. tionality,” delivered by Lord Haldane. The ordinary politician is, as a rule, like a weather-vane, carried away by every breath of popular opinion. The average statesman attempts to put into practice the accepted tenets of his day and generation, but Lord Haldane is not a politician, is greater than the average statesman, for he has been able to seize upon the spirit of the age, that “Zeitgeist” of the Germans, by which is meant all that is greatest and noblest in one’s preconceived but often inarticulate ideals. The address itself was delivered without stay or hesitation, in the voice of the cultivated English gentleman—in print it is literature, and epoch-making in its importance to the nations most vitally concerned, and worthy of the theme, worthy of the occasion, and worthy of the Lord Chancellor of England. After Lord Haldane's address a resolution, presented by Mr. Hampton Carter, was unanimously passed expressing deep appreciation of the address and thanking the Lord Chancellor for coming over from England. Mr. Carter, in the course of his remarks, said: “We applaud the spirit of the address. I take it that it means that every nation shall act like a gentleman, and the counsels of the world shall be controlled by the gentleman-like nations.” (Laughter).
Lord Haldane was also informed that he had been elected an honorary member of the American Bar Association, and he acknowledged the honour in terms of warm appreciation and gratitude.
LORD HALDANE ON THE NAVY.
“It would be a great source of relief to Great Britain if Canada could assist in the defence of our common interests. “The burden of defending the Empire is becoming very heavy for our little islands. “We will defend the Empire as long as you want us to, but any additional strength you can give us will be one of the greatest guarantees of peace we can have. “Our policy is to keep out foreign entanglements, and the more you can come into our councils and take your parts in shaping our foreign policy, the more happy we shall feel.”
—THE Rt. HoN. Wiscount HALDANE,
Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain.
Ex-President Taft on the best way to become acquainted:— Mr. Taft was at his best. “Ladies who have been embraced so often,” he said, smiling his famous smile; and after further references to the same ladies, turned to enumerate his reasons for feeling so at home in Canada. “During my absence, but within hearing distance,” he said, “I had the honour to figure prominently when some people were obessed. You cannot make acquaintance with people until you are abused in their hearing and commended to their approval or disapproval by graceful cartoons.” (Laughter). “For that reason I feel at home in both countries.” (Prolonged laughter and cheers). “Through accident, fortuitous circumstance, or by a calamity when I lost 