National Duties 235 



has had the will and the power to change the des 

 tiny of the ages, in the end must die, yet no less 

 surely the nation that has played the part of the 

 weakling must also die ; and whereas the nation that 

 has done nothing leaves nothing behind it, the nation 

 that has done a great work really continues, though 

 in changed form, to live for evermore. The Roman 

 has passed away exactly as all the nations of an 

 tiquity which did not expand when he expanded have 

 passed away; but their very memory has vanished, 

 while he himself is still a living force throughout 

 the wide world in our entire civilization of to-day, 

 and will so continue through countless generations, 

 through untold ages. 



It is because we believe with all our heart and soul 

 in the greatness of this country, because we feel the 

 thrill of hardy life in our veins, and are confident that 

 to us is given the privilege of playing a leading part 

 in the century that has just opened, that we hail with 

 eager delight the opportunity to do whatever task 

 Providence may allot us. We admit with all sin 

 cerity that our first duty is within our own house 

 hold; that we must not merely talk, but act, in fa 

 vor of cleanliness and decency and righteousness, 

 in all political, social, and civic matters. No pros 

 perity and no glory can save a nation that is rotten at 

 heart. We must ever keep the core of our national 

 being sound, and see to it that not only our citizens 



