PRESIDEXTS ADDRESS SEC1'10^" E. 393 



why should tiiey not? The East is everywhere moving. Surely the 

 Tiiost wondrous cablegram ever despatched was this : " The elections 

 are proceeding quietly at Jerusalem." Turkey is rejuvenescent, and 

 in spite of complications we may hope that tlie principles of freedom 

 and toleration taught to Europe by the French Revolution and ad- 

 vanced by Anglo-Saxon example are being grasped by the peoples of 

 the Turkish Empire. The Persian people, aided by Russia and 

 Britain, are throwing oif their despotism. The peoples of India are 

 travelling under the fostering care of our Motherland to more and 

 more of freedom and self-government. Japan has not only sprung 

 at a boimd into the ranks of civilisation, but has also shown a wise 

 restraint in the hour of success. China, with its immense population 

 and resources, the good qualities of patience in her peasants, and 

 probity in her merchants, has a future before her tlie greatness of 

 which we can but dimly foresee. There is no reason to adduce that 

 tliese nations will be miworthy of respect, of reciprocity, of alliance. 

 And we see that this respect is already accorded to Japan hj the two 

 sji'eat Ang-lo-Saxon Goveniments. 



The black and sad pages of past history, the ever-recurring- disap- 

 pointment in the achievement for which the stiaiggle was so keen and 

 the hope so high, may at times make us lose heart and faith in an 

 even nobler evolution. But there are the bright pages, and the 

 shining examples of self-sacrifice and patience and of hei-oic deed, 

 which show us that the cause of humanity is not lost, but only that 

 there is need for us all to play our part and not to be weaiy in well- 

 doing. Two qualities are of enduring value. We must be scientific in 

 our lives, in our conduct, in our G-overnment. We must be unselfish 

 as nations and as individuals. Ignorance is doomed to desti-uction. 

 Selfishness ends in catastrophe. Let us hope, then, and work tor a 

 strenuous and an equable development of this great Pacific. The way 

 may be long and the stumblings many; but the goal is assured, even 

 if we as individuals and as nations are not worthy to attain to it. 

 Let me conclude by quoting to you the idealistic poem of John 

 Addington Sjmionds, who after a lifetime devoted to the study of the 

 evolution of Italy, that land which has suffered more set-backs and 

 more miseries than perhaps any other, could still write — 



These things shall he ! A loftier i-ace 



Than e'er the world hath known shall rise, 

 Witli flame of freedom in their souls 



And light of knowledge in their eyes. 

 They shall be gentle, brave, and strong 



To spill no drop of blood, but dare 

 All that may plant man's lordship firm 



On earth, and fire, and sea, and air. 

 Nation with nation, land with land, 



Unarmed shall, live as comrades free ; 

 In loving heart and brain shall throb 



The pulse of one fratei'nity. 

 Man shall love man with lieart as pure 



And fervent as the young-eyed joys 

 Who chant their heavenly songs before *A.i»^ 



God's face with undiscordant noise. ** 



New arts shall bloom of loftier mould, " 



And mightier music thrill the skies, 

 A.nd every lip shall be a song. 



When all the earth is paradise. 



