THE NEREST CRUSADE.

Evening Star, Issue 10872, 4 March 1899, Page 4

THE NEREST CRUSADE.

BEING PROPHETIC EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF W. T. STEAD. AMUSING SKIT. All the London comic papers have (writes our London correspondent) tried their hands at chaffing Mr Stead anent his Peace Crusade, but barring the folio-wing skit in the 'St. James's' on the good man's diar.% I see nothing worth reproduction : April I.—Mv Peace Crusade has started at last. "To tlie very last it seemed more than doubtful whether it would. So many people whom I wanted to join our band disappointed me. The Marquess of DufTerin, Mr Cecil Rhodes, and the Bishop of Lonoon (to name only three examples out of those whom I suggested in my famous art ; de in the ' Review of Reviews '), all of them aec'Jned the honor, and as substitutes I had to be contented with the two Mr Caines and Mrs Ormiston Chant. Our departure from Charing Cross was rather tame, as no crowd appeared to see us off, and our farewell speeches therefore—need I say that everyone of us had prepared one? —remained undelivered. Rough passage Crusaders very seasick. A love of peace and a queasy stomach often go together. April 2.—ln Paris. Held our first meeting. Audience miscellaneous and rather seedy. Proceedings opened with an eloquent address from myself. In an impassioned peroration I ealled upon the French people to put an end 10 their gigantic armaments, the possession of which, far from being a legitimate source of rational pride, was a blot on national life and an offence to civilisation. Effect of this somewhat unexpected. Instead of cheers for peace (and Me), cries of "Vive I'armee" filled the hull, mingled with shouts of "Conspuez Stead." Not content with shouting the latter, my audience proceeded to suit their action to the words, till I ultimately made my escape by a back way under the protection of a detachment of troops. We leave Paris to-night fierlm

April 4.—At Berlin. An encouraging recep tion from some members of the bocial Democratic party, who called at my hotel on my arrival and bought a dozen copies cf the 'Review of Reviews,' one of them becoming an annual subscriber.

April s.—Held our second meeting. ence large and attentive. 'Sly remarks on the evuV of"largfr armies received with -cheers. " Think," I cried, " of the disgrace, thirt'c of the stigma which hostory must attach to the name of those rulers whose power rests upon the number of their bayonets, and who, far from reducing their armaments and preparing the way for universal peace, contemplate with complacency their ever-increasing bt'Ualiona.", Just as I had reached this point, aiyV encour-. aged by the applause of my audience, was about to enlarge upon it, I felt a baud upon my shoulder, and found myself arrested lor " lese-majeste." Silence at once fell ipcn the meeting, and I was led away to prison ui der a strong guard. I April 20.—Have spent the past fitieen days in imploring the intervention of my Consul, who assures me he is doing all he can. Mean-' time, the Crusaders have scattered. Most of them returned to England on the nirjht of my unrest. The rest are in hiding, and are being gradually deported as they are discovered. It appears that in saying what I did of iv''-rs and armaments I was reflecting on the Kij.peror, and, indeed, now I come to think of it, I sup- I pose I was. I have offered to have an inter-' view with His Majesty and explain waiters tc him, but so far my offer has not been accepted. April 30.—Free at last. I began to tbink I should spend the remainder of my lite in a Prussian fortress. However, the Emporor relented, and I was conducted to the frontier by a company of infantry, with an intimation that I had better not return. Undeterred by these untoward experiences, I have determined to go on to St. Petersburg. My friend the Czar will receive me kindly, I know, l-'y fellowcrusaders having all returned to their homes, and all my copies of ' The Review of Reviews' l having been seized and destroyed by the Ger-1 man Government (I started with three trunks full of them), I can only pay my sisit to His Imperial Majesty in a friendly way, and, as it were, unofficially. | May 4.—At St. Petersburgh. My arrival seems to have passed unnoticed. Have not been able to obtain an interview with the Czar. Put not vour trust in Princes. His Majesty, however, sent me a kind note (which I shall, of course, publish when I return to England) hoping I shall enjoy my stay in the northern capital and enclosing me a permit to view the Royal Dockyards. May 5.—1 have been to the Dockyards, where unusual activity seems to prevail. No fewer than twelve torpedo-destroyers are to be laid down immediately, while an unprecedented number of battle-ships are already in the course of construction. Seems an odd sight to select for exhibition to a Peace Crusader. Can His Majesty have had any arriere pensee when he chose it? Surely not. And yet, when I caught a glimpse of him in his carriage as I was returning from my visit of inspection, his face had a strange look, and though he did not see me he appeared to be smiling at something. At what, I wonder?