humanity which comes from perfect self-control. And if we all need this counsel ,none perhapa need it so much as those who go far afield to struggle for order and humanity beyond the seas. The word of the Psalmist come into one’smind,”How shall we sind the Lord’s song in a strange land?” the patheticcry of an exiled people for whom the note of triumph and even the glad songs of daily life and worship seem forever impossible.It it too fanciful to find a wider application in these words as the tragic utterance of the spirit of man struggling with alien surroundings among an uncongenial people? The citizen living at home among the institutions in which he has been born and bred,which are of the very fibre and texture of his being,finds it no hard thing to fulfil the dutiesn of his position for he breathes at every hour the atmosphere of his country’s manners and his country’s laws,and they naturally and insensibly mould his character and conduct.In his party or his church or his social circle he finds the moral support which helps to make him the man he is But how many of us are there who suddenly transplanted into new and untried surroundings can keep fresh and untainted the character that at home lived wholesome and secure? We English have shown a great power to thrive in all climates and to frame new organs of government in the countries we have conquered. The genius for self-governmant crosses the seas with us. But if it is to win us respect and honor it must be united with a personal character which draws its inspiration from the nobler qualities of our race with a spirit which finds in self-control no less than in law and order one of the essen-tial conditions of civic life and which regards the ordinances and institutions of acolonial commonwealth not as mere means to the exploiting of a new country but as the condi tions of that civilized common life which distinguishes man from the non-political animals
3.These you will say are far-off matters what are our plain duties as citizens at home in England ? I can only repeat the two principles I have laid down. Realize the unity of the state transcending all class differences all
Sec-tional and sectarian jealousies realize the personal response-bility of each citizen. If you hold these fast par duties will discover themselves as you go on your way . happily the variet tes of public service are as diverse as men’s gift s. one man will feel a special interest in local government , another in imperial affairs ; but whether in the larger or the lesser field , let us be careful that wa do not fail by the faults which history has proved to be fatal to civic organism. The cities of Greece and of mediaeval Italy failed because they put motives of personal interest and devotion to its individual members to make of them a living and a moving power. All the old constitutions suffered from the fatl flaw of resting on a basis of slavery, more or less pronounced. The are of citizenship has in there days been extended to coincide with the entire people. The resources of the whole nation may now, if we so will it , enrich the civic life. But still, as always, the nation stand or falls by its individual members. Each man and woman among us has his own duty to the state, which only he or she can discover. There it is and theirs is the responsibility to find it and perform it it may be to guide the councils of the empire;” it may be to inspire with new ideas and to humanize by personal symapathy and devotion the national institutions which surround us on every side poor law, prisons,hospitals,schools . But most of us are not made for the work of control or government . On the other hand, with all of us rests the duty of choosing the right men and women to serve us in such matters. We English are not generally given to affectation,but we are apt to affect a fine scorn for the obvious duties of citizenship as they fall to our lot. We despise our vote for the poor-law guardian,or even for Parliament , and we pay our rates and taxes with a rueful face,as though we had no share in the work which they do for the nation. If we are called on a jury,most of us,I fancy
humanity which comes from perfect self-control. And if we all need this counsel ,none perhapa need it so much as those who go far afield to struggle for order and humanity beyond the seas. The word of the Psalmist come into one’smind,”How shall we sind the Lord’s song in a strange land?” the patheticcry of an exiled people for whom the note of triumph and even the glad songs of daily life and worship seem forever impossible.It it too fanciful to find a wider application in these words as the tragic utterance of the spirit of man struggling with alien surroundings among an uncongenial people? The citizen living at home among the institutions in which he has been born and bred,which are of the very fibre and texture of his being,finds it no hard thing to fulfil the dutiesn of his position for he breathes at every hour the atmosphere of his country’s manners and his country’s laws,and they naturally and insensibly mould his character and conduct.In his party or his church or his social circle he finds the moral support which helps to make him the man he is But how many of us are there who suddenly transplanted into new and untried surroundings can keep fresh and untainted the character that at home lived wholesome and secure? We English have shown a great power to thrive in all climates and to frame new organs of government in the countries we have conquered. The genius for self-governmant crosses the seas with us. But if it is to win us respect and honor it must be united with a personal character which draws its inspiration from the nobler qualities of our race with a spirit which finds in self-control no less than in law and order one of the essen-tial conditions of civic life and which regards the ordinances and institutions of acolonial commonwealth not as mere means to the exploiting of a new country but as the condi tions of that civilized common life which distinguishes man from the non-political animals
3.These you will say are far-off matters what are our plain duties as citizens at home in England ? I can only repeat the two principles I have laid down. Realize the unity of the state transcending all class differences all
Sec-tional and sectarian jealousies realize the personal response-bility of each citizen. If you hold these fast par duties will discover themselves as you go on your way . happily the variet tes of public service are as diverse as men’s gift s. one man will feel a special interest in local government , another in imperial affairs ; but whether in the larger or the lesser field , let us be careful that wa do not fail by the faults which history has proved to be fatal to civic organism. The cities of Greece and of mediaeval Italy failed because they put motives of personal interest and devotion to its individual members to make of them a living and a moving power. All the old constitutions suffered from the fatl flaw of resting on a basis of slavery, more or less pronounced. The are of citizenship has in there days been extended to coincide with the entire people. The resources of the whole nation may now, if we so will it , enrich the civic life. But still, as always, the nation stand or falls by its individual members. Each man and woman among us has his own duty to the state, which only he or she can discover. There it is and theirs is the responsibility to find it and perform it it may be to guide the councils of the empire;” it may be to inspire with new ideas and to humanize by personal symapathy and devotion the national institutions which surround us on every side poor law, prisons,hospitals,schools . But most of us are not made for the work of control or government . On the other hand, with all of us rests the duty of choosing the right men and women to serve us in such matters. We English are not generally given to affectation,but we are apt to affect a fine scorn for the obvious duties of citizenship as they fall to our lot. We despise our vote for the poor-law guardian,or even for Parliament , and we pay our rates and taxes with a rueful face,as though we had no share in the work which they do for the nation. If we are called on a jury,most of us,I fancy
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