UNITED STATES AND CANADA 225 



retained, under varying conditions, the persistent 

 qualities and characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon 

 race, and if this be true, surely it follows that any 

 serious quarrel between ourselves and America is 

 now impossible. (Cheers.) The very extent and 

 complexity of our common interests make contro- 

 versy from time to time almost inevitable, but we 

 may at least determine that, as far as in us lies, 

 these differences as they arise shall be settled as 

 between friends and kinsfolk, and not as between 

 enemies and rivals. (Cheers.) 



Mr. Bright, who was loudly cheered on rising to 

 propose the next toast, " Our Kinsmen,'' said : It 

 has been my fortune — I will say my good fortune — 

 to have had to meet very large audiences in this 

 noble hall, and to address them on many subjects 

 of great interest to myself and to my countrymen 

 generally. I may say on no occasion have I risen 

 to address a meeting in this building with more 

 entire sympathy with its object than that which 

 I feel in standing before you on this occasion. 

 (Hear, hear.) When I saw that my friend and 

 colleague Mr. Chamberlain had been offered the 

 mission to the United States, and had accepted it, 

 I wrote to tell him that I thought the Government 

 had made a good choice, and that he was wise in 

 the acceptance of the office — (hear, hear) — and that 

 I could but hope for him and believe all the success 

 which he and the Government and the country 

 could hope for and could wish for. (Cheers.) 

 Well, what we have seen is this, that he has re- 

 turned successful with his colleagues in the great 



