

1913] One of the Greatest of Englishmen 



of domination and aggrandizement which have brought the 

 world to such misery and ruin. Imperialism and protection he 

 considered to be sprung from the same poisoned root, and he 

 was continually warning both Europe and America against 

 their increasing and corrosive influence, only to be combated by 

 bringing home to individuals a sense of the iniquity of war. 



Bryce speaks of him as "one of the great of our 

 time in his absolute independence of mind and 

 absolute courage in thought and action." 



Courtney felt a profound interest in the results of 

 the Rush-Bagot agreement of a century ago, by which 

 all armament, defensive or otherwise, was excluded 

 from the Great Lakes of America. I also particularly sagacious 

 recall two epigrammatic sayings of his: "War time is 

 the opportunity for fools," and "The censorship 

 will make a fool of any man even if he is not born to it." 

 These suggested St. Paul's admonition to "suffer 

 fools gladly" an obvious necessity, during the 

 recent war, in England as well as in America. The 

 Courtneys and Lord Courtney's brilliant sister, 

 Mrs. Oliver, were intimate friends of the Hoovers, 

 who first introduced us to them all. 



Lord Loreburn and Lord Avebury I have never 

 met, but I hold both, for different reasons, in very 

 high esteem. Neither was it my good fortune to 

 meet Lord Morley, now far along in years but one of 

 the most distinguished of his group. As is well 

 known, he resigned from the Cabinet rather than 

 take any personal part in European war. 



Of the men in office in 1913 I saw but little, and to 

 give detailed impressions would add nothing worth 

 while. Asquith, though representing Democracy, is a 

 mental aristocrat a man too self-contained and 

 conscientious to turn the sharp corners involved in 



