PRESIDENTS ADDRESS—SECTION F. 159 
but it opens up a grave subject. For if a higher culture could 
be enabled by provident moral or self-control to successfully 
grapple and overcome the present enigmas of social science, how 
is it possible that such a culture could be effectually preserved 
if it were open to be disturbed by the cheap labour or the 
starvation price products of other nations, who, by improvidence 
and lack of moral control, were still sunk in the abyss of that 
wretchedness which is due to over-population? In this aspect I 
am humbly of opinion the doctrines of Free Trade and Protection 
require further consideration ; and it is with the hope that the 
reasonable discussion of such matters may shed fresh light upon 
this and related problems that I have had the courage to 
address you upon these old, well-worn, but hitherto insoluble 
difficulties belonging to social and economic science. 
One thought impresses me not a little. It is this—AlIl truths 
that are painful are blindly and passionately resisted by the 
majority, who also are ever prone to reward skill when it is 
employed in opposing or obscuring what is hateful. It cannot 
be hoped, therefore, that the warnings given with respect to the 
danger that awaits us in the near future will be much heeded at 
present. The world’s greatest intellects and genius are, for the 
most part, supported in defending popular views; for it is not 
found to be a difficult matter for men of greatest literary talent 
and skill to show, where complications abound, that the true is 
false and the false is true. Popular favour is a terrible task- 
master, for she refuses bread to those who fail to work her 
pleasure. I do not, therefore, undervalue the temptation which 
ensnares the majority of able minds to continue the defence of 
pleasant delusions, when these alone find a ready market of 
exchange value. But the evil time draws too near for delusive 
teaching. It is now necessary that those who see the rocks 
ahead should speak out faithfully. 
