224 WITH MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN THE 



three Governments concerned. It is not for me to 

 anticipate their decision, but I observe that already 

 the prophets of evil are again at work — (laughter) — 

 but I hope they will be again mistaken. (Hear, 

 hear.) In any case, I am convinced that if our 

 Treaty be judged upon its merits and apart from 

 political considerations it will commend itself to the 

 vast majority of the people of the United States and 

 of Canada. I should like to speak for a moment on 

 the future relations between ourselves and our giant 

 offspring. (Cheers.) Americans are very sensitive 

 to English opinion — (hear, hear) — although I never 

 could discover that they cared a straw for the judg- 

 ment or criticism of foreign nations. I ventured to 

 tell my American friends that there was universal 

 amongst all classes in Great Britain a pride not 

 altogether unmixed with envy at the great expansion 

 of their country and its extraordinary prosperity, 

 and at the increasing intelligence and cultivation of 

 the people. (Cheers.) I told them that to be an 

 American was in itself a passport to the good offices 

 and the goodwill of every Englishman — (cheers) — 

 and on the other hand an Englishman in America 

 finds himself still at home. How can it be other- 

 wise ? The language, the literature, the laws, and 

 the religion are the same. The institutions are 

 modelled in the best spirit of English freedom. The 

 differences are only trivial and superficial. They 

 are not more important than the differences which 

 separate Englishmen and Scotsmen or Welshmen 

 and Englishmen. The two nations are indeed 

 only branches of a greater nationality which^ has 



