THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 98, 28 March 1885, Page 2

THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

In the .course of his~spei\ch s\t Bir— kenhoad when cutting the first soil ot the Wirral Rail ways, the Jiight Hon. •W;. E. -G-LADSTr-NB nuule the followii»g observations : — " I desire" to j reiterate the very strong conviction I ! entertain that; you arc iisseinhled here jto-day through the hospitality of the , ■directors of the,, railway, who.confi-^ jdanily .'count upon the 'future' results iof the line to bear this ; and other to celebrate with goodwill, as far as 'l can see, an occasion which is lone of the utmost importance and interest to the whole of this portion of •the. country, '- May success and prosperity attend its beneficial efforts. I ilook upon with a profound* interest, Sfrom having had the privilege bt watching its course for more than half a century — I have seen the strength, and power and wealth of this country increased beyond all previous 'anticipation and almost beyond the power bf present belief. If you "hear .weak- minded people speak of the kctual or possible decay of this empire, don't. listen to them ior.a. tnoment. Don't listen tor a-moir.ent, gentlemen, to such dreams and to sucjj. fabl«s. The strength of the British empire is increasing, and, so far $s humiin jTiiclgnieritxau anticipate, m\i Increase:"" If* other European (countries have grown m power, this country has yet more grown m power. Be jasi, gentlemen, and "fear not, and rely uporf it the day lias not'co'me; and the day is not about to come, when you need fear, with justice at your back,' tt> tlbok into 'the ftaee of ftny power, or any country m the world. Vr '".*•■-" ,■ ', .■' ' ■ 7