146 To the River Plate and Hack 



heard falling from the lips of careful students of affairs 

 in our own land. It is a wise man indeed who knows 

 rightly how to use prosperity. 



The development of luxury, ostentation, and reckless 

 extravagance on the part of the rich begets discontent 

 among the poor. The result is reflected in envy, strife, 

 and social disorder. This has been the teaching of his- 

 tory through all the centuries. The lands of the West 

 need not expect to be exempted from the operation of 

 those forces which have wrought in the human mind in 

 all past ages. Human nature has not greatly changed 

 since the days of Babylon and Rome. The injunction 

 of the Apostle 'not to trust in uncertain riches' is as 

 applicable to nations as to individuals. The secret of 

 true national greatness is found not so much in wealth 

 as in moral character. 



' ' What constitutes a State ? 

 Not high-raised battlement or laboured mound, 



Thick wall or moated gate; 

 Not cities proud with spires and turrets crowned; 



Not bays and broad-armed ports, 

 Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride; 



Not starred and spangled courts, 

 Where low-browed baseness wafts perfume to pride, 



No; Men, high-minded Men, 



* * 



Men who their duties know, 

 But know their rights, and, knowing, dare maintain, 



Prevent the long-aimed blow, 

 And crush the tyrant while they rend the chain; 



These constitute a State." 1 



1 Alcseus, Paraphrased by Sir William Jones. 



