ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 
161 
would seem to imply that the dominant race was of northern origin. 
The Romans, according to their own tradition, were descended 
from the scum of all the surrounding nations and invited by 
Romulus to people his city, and, even if we reject tradition, their 
geographical position on the border between two such different 
races as the Latins and the Etrurians would indicate mixed blood. 
The modern Erench were formed by the infusion of a German 
tribe into a Celtic population, and we know how our own English 
breed was enlivened and improved by large importations of Danes 
and Normans. 
It has often been a matter of speculation what will be the future 
of the world. Past experience tells us that each great race has its 
day of pre-eminence followed by a gradual decline. What is to 
happen when the English and the Germans and the Erench have 
told their story and finished their career ? There does not at 
present appear to be any race to succeed them, for the Americans 
are only a repetition of the English, with the same virtues and the 
same faults. Perhaps some new and at present unexpected com¬ 
bination may take place—some fresh breed may be formed out of 
old elements—the future may be with some mighty people not yet 
created, as different from any of its component parts as gunpowder 
is from either saltpetre or sulphur or charcoal. 
You will think by this time that I have advanced rather far into 
the regions of fancy, and that I am unduly making up for my want 
of knowledge of natural history by drawing upon my imagination. 
I return to my original intention of seeking an analogy to human 
affairs in the government and the conduct of the animal world. 
Nowhere do we find more suggested to us in this direction than in 
a study of ants and bees. “Go to the ant, consider her ways, and 
be wise ” is a precept which has been addressed to the sluggard. 
It might perhaps be addressed to the politician. Many useful, 
but often forgotten moral lessons may be drawn from observing the 
habits of these insects. We see the evils of slavery, for, as you 
know, certain species of ants have slaves, and become so helpless 
and so entirely dependent in consequence that they cannot even 
clean or feed themselves, and if their slaves left them they would 
starve to death. The wars and battles of these little creatures are 
full of interest. We see the advantage of courage and skill over 
mere brute force. We may draw the lesson that be a nation ever 
so industrious and orderly, ever so capable of collecting food, of 
building itself a comfortable and luxurious abode, if it allows its 
fighting powers to decay, it will subject itself to the most frightful 
calamities. 
