292 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES 



of the worst inhabitants of the slums. What thoughtful 

 mancould help feeling at such a time how thin was the 

 &ociaj_a-ust_gn which our civic life rested, in the false 

 security of irreflexion? And when I look abroad at our 

 vast empire and consider what consequences would follow 

 if the ignorant masses ignorant, I mean, of the practice 

 of the private virtues and of the duties of citizenship- 

 were once to realize their power and combine, I cannot 

 but feel how directly the welfare of the State depends upon 



its good men. 



This is not the place to address our working men ; and 

 even if it were, I should not by a single word imply that 

 they are less careful of their own character or of that of 

 the State than others. But I should say to them, that the 

 Empire is now in the hollow of their hands. They can 

 bring it down in ruin, or they can guide it to still greater 

 issues. But whether they will do the former or the latter, 

 depends upon the enlightened and unselfish patriotism of 

 every man amongst them. And their responsibility recoils 

 upon those who have been favoured with better oppor- 

 tunities of learning the worth of citizenship and of doing 

 what is right to the State. The State is not safe unless 

 public opinion is enlightened opinion ; andthe task of 



converting public opinion into educatedopinion is scLvast_ 



as to require the best powers of us all. 



There is~no~doubt that the individual depends upon 

 the State, there is just as little doubt that the State depends" 

 upon the individual. Our debts to the city and the State 

 jire mejjUed^by_^uj3bligations,and they are immeasur- 

 able ; and rMvill not be well with either city or State if 

 these debts are^not, always in our eyes, debts of honour 

 to be punctually and fully paid. 



