" NATIONALITY." 291 



Happy commeut on the saying "Beauty is only skin deep, 

 but ugliness goes to the bone," for thus beauty lasts the 

 longer. 



Nationalitij. 



Nationality is a stage in the formation of a unit of grouped 

 human lives which have, in accordance with their environ- 

 ment, developed characters of greater or less persistency. 



It is said that in the Austrian Parliament, when a motion 

 involving different legislation for different parts of the 

 Empire was being urged on the ground of their distinct 

 racial characteristics, a member opened his speech on the 

 other side Avith the remark that the question before them 

 really Avas whether DarAvinism Avas true or not. He v/ent on 

 to say that if the truth of that theory Avere admitted tliey 

 should legislate for a better state of things, and trust that the 

 progressive development of the people Avould adapt their 

 habits of thought to the conditions under which they had to 

 live. 



Nationality is quite independent of racial unity. Loyalty 

 and impulsiA'e patriotism may be developed in a nation made 

 up of the most heterogeneous races, and characters fostered 

 by local circumstances may develop into strong idiosyn- 

 cracies. 



In consequence of this confusion betAveen national and racial 

 we have of late years often heard the demand for independent 

 administration of local affairs urged on the ground of differ- 

 ence of racial character Avhere Avhat was really meant Avas 

 that difference in habits of thought, Avhich is produced by 

 external circumstances and isolation, had brought about such 

 a difference in the Avay of looking at things that the whole 

 population of a district had begun to believe that they could 

 not live exactly in the same Avay as their neighbours, and 

 referring to temperament Avhat Avas due to habit have con- 

 sidered it Avise to perpetuate their isolation. 



Nations are formed of groups brought together by various 

 circumstances, among which racial affinities play only a small 

 subordinate part. 



The British nation is made up of the jetsam and flotsam 

 throAvn up by the Avaves of migration that have for ages 

 'been brea,king on our shores. At one time Ave have great 

 pieces from the wreck of Empires which the storms of Avar 

 have broken up and stranded on the beach ; at other times 

 the smaller fragments Avhich the gentle ripple of the every- 



u 2 



