OXFORD AND THE EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 587, 16 August 1909, Page 9

OXFORD AND THE EMPIRE

LORD CURZON ENTERTAINS COLONIAL EDITORS. NEW BLOOD FROM OVERSEAS. Brilliant weather favoured tho visit to Oxford on June 15 of the Imperial Press delegates, who wore tho guests of Lord -Curson. of Kedloston, Chancellor of tho University. A hearty welcome was given to the visitors by tho heads of tho ( various colleges, ' and the colonial pressmen found it a delightful experience to saunter through the woll-kept quadrangles and picturesque, gardens of half-a-dozen of the most widelyknown colleges. They also inspected the world-famed Bodleian Library. Lord Curzon entertained tho delegates at luncheon at All Souls' College. In proposing "The Guests," ho said: ' Oxford is part of tho lifo of tho nation. ■She has written her .mark on ever) , age, iaud every ago, in return, has written its <mark on her.' Hero .statesmen, have been . and perhaps a good many who 'wore not statesmen. Hero Kings have reigned, theologians and schoolmen have contended, ref6rmers have oven been burned at :tho stake, and those great ideas have sprung ■into being which, radiating from the centre, have gono abroad arid have shaken tho world. . ■ ■'

I think, too, I may fairly call attention ti the part Oxford has played in Empirebuilding and in Empire consolidation. Wo train hero, and wo send out to you, your Worornors and administrators, your teachers, preachers, and ; lawyers, We play a part in the training—if I may turn tor .a moment to India —of that splendid Indian Civil Service. which is oho of tho glories of tho British nation. Wo train also, T think, no, inconsiderable, number of those pressmen who will in ; tho future bo tha speaking links (tho, live rails, if tho motapnbr' .may' bo permitted) for connecting tho outskirts of t!;o Empiro with its heart. I can assure you that in coming to Oxford you come to no Slcopy Hoilovy, which is drugged with the spell of its own enchantment, or which spends .its time in drowsing oil tho memories of tho past. Here in Oxford wo ■aro very much alive. • • . •

In your excursions to-day you may hear murmured tho words; "Reform from within.'' That ia not a subject on which it would bo wise for me to. descant, but at least I may say that; more or less in Oxford wo.arc all reformers • now. I may ,bo permitted to lay stress on-,tho part that wo are playing, I think, in, an increasing degree in tho development of those- new and broader conceptions of Etnpiro that you have been discussing undor the munificent bequest of the late Cecil Rhodes—(cheers)—a name to which, 1 think, wo ought to'pa/ our tribute of reverent admiration.' (Cheers.). This university is spending'£so,ooo a year in bringing here and educating hero the best character, tho most alert intelligence, and tho most vigorous manhood that yon can send,to us from the dominions across the seas. The professorship and the lectureship in Colonial History which wore founded by tho lato Mr. Alfred Beit have- usefully supplemented the original bequest. • , .

Do you imagine for :a moment that that annual influx from tho overseas dominions can come hero tp Oxford without producing its effect upon U3? It is like pumping a nevr stream or blood into our age-worn hut by no means atrophied veins. These- Rhodes scholars who come hero win our prizes, capture,'our Fellowships, excel frequently in our sports. Incidentally, they have taught us something of the narrowness of our curriculum, and have spurred us to fresh exertiono in that respect. .

But tho effect does not stop there. , I venturo to think that it is reciprocal, and that ifc is equally great on the Empire as well. Every year vfo turn out a largo number of those young men. In a few years there will bo some two thousand of thorn scattered throughout tho English-speaking world. They will be tho creators'of public opinion in tho Empire, and tho real Empire-builders .of tho future. .- ■■' . ■■ '■ I H . I hope there may be a perpetual stream circulating betweori." tho colonies and England, from'the; Empire to Oxford, and from Oxford, to tlioEmpiro, carrying to.and ffo upon its bosom the best of,the character and intelligence;and-tho best of loyalty and patriotism that either of us can sivo. ■■ Dr. Hackett (Perth, West Australia), Mr. G. Robinson (Johannesburg), and Mr, C. Woodhead (Durban) briefly replied.