National Life and Character 305 



European settler from lands in which that settler 

 represents the bulk of a fairly thick population, not 

 merely a small intrusive caste. It is, of course, al- 

 ways possible that in the far-distant future (though 

 there is no sign of it now) China may travel on the 

 path of Japan, may change her policy, may develop 

 fleets and armies; but if she does do this, there is 

 no reason why this fact should stunt and dwarf the 

 people of the higher races. In Elizabeth's day the 

 Turkish fleets and armies stood toward those of Eu- 

 ropean powers in a far higher position than those of 

 China, or of the tropics generally, can ever hope to 

 stand in relation to the peoples of the temperate 

 zones; and yet this did not hinder the Elizabethan 

 Age from being one of great note both in the field 

 of thought and in the field of action. 



The anticipation of what might happen if India 

 became solidified seems even more ill-founded. Here 

 Mr. Pearson's position is that the very continuance 

 of European rule, doing away with war and famine, 

 produces an increase of population and a solidity 

 of the country, which will enable the people to over- 

 throw that European rule. He assumes that the 

 solidified and populous country will continue to re- 

 main such after the overflow of the Europeans, 

 and will be capable of deeds of aggression ; but, of 

 course, such an assumption is contrary to all proba- 

 bilities. Once the European rule was removed, 

 famine and internecine war would again become 

 chronic, and India would sink back to her former 

 place. Moreover, the long continuance of British 



