The Dominion. SATURDAY JANUARY 24, 1914. THE GENIUS OF THE BRITISH RACE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1966, 24 January 1914, Page 4

The Dominion. SATURDAY JANUARY 24, 1914. THE GENIUS OF THE BRITISH RACE.

»;,v P-essim ism, ■is ■ oncjoi/'oil i';;nationn 1 YiK-s nt. tho. pwyjiit : tinic. On all in-edict-ingv;that has. cxhanstctl ,itself, ancC that the greatness, of the.-. Empire • is;on the uanfi. »\c arc oeiug told that, the general Virihtyjof .thofriation-is declining: that, its. intellectual-glories arc pass-" ing 1 awaythat.- 1 it is being - outstripped by'othor-'nations in science, literature,, and-'art; that its moral tone is on the down grade; that it is Buffering acute,iy' irom physical degeneracy; that it. ran hardly hold its own in, commercial competition with rival peoples; that its military reputation has lost its former splendour, and its naval supremacy is being- seriously challenged. The pessimists have, drawn a depressing picture, but, fortunately, it is nob a true one. These prophets of evil have become so accustomed to look Upon i the dark side of things that they have almost entirely forgotten those strong : and lasting elements In our national life which arc characteristic of a great people. An occasional glance at . this brighter side of the picture has a wholesome influence, and sueh a glance is ail the more effective when it is some intelligent and friendly who draws our attention to those qualities which go to form what®is known as the genius of the British race, this was done quite recently by M. Amtole France, who hns-bcon cl&scribed as the most con- 1 siclerable, and. certainly 'the most wum , ;0 . ' , ? v ' n ß literafy artists." While London in December last . Frenchman made an interesting speech, in. the course.- .of which he had something to say about, the national character of the English people. After referring to those who. 'after a long series o{ robust generations, convey.to us the vast and pro found .spirit of Shakespeahe and Bacon,., he proceeded as follows:—-

In this English genius'there is a vigorous continuity whieli provokes «-oml»r and coiupelg-admiratiou. It .mny be said that its gravity wedded to n peri'ett ®ocidhumour, its happy combination o£ rcalis_ni with a sublime idealism, its patient effort for justice, its virile energy and' constancy in virtue make it a perpetual ■homage lo human liberty and human dignity It has won the esteem of the whole world, and has nowhere been . better knoivn nor more esteemed thaii in France. The Trance of the eighteenth century, the France of MonteSfiuieu and Voltaire—and that is the grp«, the true France—took jowr political institutions as her example an,<l her ideal. Your frh&kespeare renewed our poetic inspiration. Our Parliamentary system is the child of yours. I seo here—and it honours both you and myself—men between whom there are ST-eat differences of beliefs, opinions, and ulcus, but who havo in ■ common the integrity, tho energy, that British sturdiness which gives them the look of a family and unites them by strong ties. Yoti are ?iier»etlc in every thins, eiier»etic both in intellect and in character. It is not a mere ehanee that English writers such as Thomas de Quince? havo spo-ken so well of the old Roman It is not a mere chance that Itndye.rd Kipling hi'.s written such fine passages on Imperial Rome, It is because there is a certain relationship between the genius of Rome and the genius of Ungland. ■ The Roman people loved justice, and aimed at giving equitable laws and august peace to the conquered lands. It is, of course,, only, natural that M. Anatoib FraKce, when, speaking in England to an English audience, •would lay stress on the nobler qualities of the. English race, leaving it to others to paint in the darker colours; but the fact remains that a : nation of which a _ distinguished foreigner can speak in such high terms of praise need not be unduly depressed by the pessimistic voices from within iti own borders. It is true that tho British Empire,_ like every other civilised nation, is_ at present passing through a critical period in its history. There are social, moral, and intellectual movements in progress which may well cause anxiety to every patriotic mind. There is a decidedly un'whoksome element in ccrtain classes oi modern literature; there are forces at work which tend to undermine family life; we are lacking in the spirit of discipline; and the physical standard of.tluTrace is being lowered by the excessive multiplication oi the unfit in proportion to the more virile section of the people. If these and other evil tendencies are not checked, the pessimists may in course of time have the best of the argument; but so far there is certainly no nead for panic or'despair. In the long story of our nation the outlook has often been ranch more gloomy, yet the genius of the British race has succeeded in averting disaster. and there are sound reasons for believing that that genius is not going to fail us now, though farfeachiiig social and political experiments are being made, and the spirit of unrest has seldom been more aggressive.

Great- alterations have also taken place in the moral ideals of the nation, but it is a great mistake to think that these changes have been entirely for the worse. V Never,' has the public conscience beeii more sensitive in ' matters ■, concerning the social life of'the people. 'Conditions that were accepted almost, as a mat tar of course in the '"good old days" are now regarded as intolerable, and the best minds are doing their utmost to make the world a better and happier place to live in. The feeling is abroad that the work of reform must, go on unceasingly until every man has the. opportunity of liviner a. life worth living. It must be admitted that the existing spirit of unrest too often manifests itself ..in blind endeavoursto wreck and destroy; but in its best form it is associated with that divine discontent which is always striving upwards, and is never satisfied with anything short of the best. Wo live in an ago when every belief and institution ,-is being ...called upon . to justify its existence.'lt .may ■. have done great things' "past,l but if it cannot meet', the- needs of 'the present, the - relentless: question.. • is asked: * . "Why <■ cumbereth ■ ■ it the ground f ■' The ordeal is 'a severe one; and it is-not surprising that timid people think that!'..the very foundations of..'civilisation;.,-ire crumbling beneath '.their ;■ feet; ;.but-'-' those who have, sufficient faith and courage can see in the'general,sifting'out' and unsett,lenient the nreriaratiosi for a .new and better time coming. " ;; But 1 Im* old order; will.not g i vc. p 1 a ce. to t b sn e w. w i (. h out ■ ? t v i fe and pain. .'.The path of progress es always open until;.all 'per feet! a. a n d no I h i n gf-i s !■ m o roi:.- irri tating to thoughtful.people than thai, unintelligent. optimiimswhieh.. v bar& the way to atlvanciment'by-.encoiirag-:. ing the idea that, there is no.Voomfor, impi'oVGßcnt..~V,Tho only 1 - sort "of np." Uiaiiß irortty. < of, tjia .aamc. k tlut i

which, after looking with open eyes) at ; . all the facts,.- sees reasonable'l ground for' the 1 belief that' the forces j : making ■ for betterment-, are on the whole stronger .than those making | for destruction. 'Applying this broad i : rational outlook to the future of our nation one is justified in setting aside the dark forebodings ' of- the;l . pessimist, and in hoping that the •: British Empire and. race will play. ; a great -part in the. coming age. Those characteristics of the English i genius so finely sketched ' by... M. Anatoi.e F RANcK---~the love.of-justice, and the'qualities of integrity, ener-. gv, and sturdiness—have not died out, and ' a"- nation that possesses them-"can-'faoc-the troubles of. the present without dismay and look forward to the future, with, hope and confidence.