BRITAIN'S DESTINY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1916, Page 8

BRITAIN'S DESTINY.

SHALL SHE PROVE WORTHY? MR. HUGHES' ELOQUENT SPEECH, NEED FOR SELF-SACRIFICE., (Sydney Sun Special). London, April 13. 'Speaking at the Guildhall when, the freedom of the City of London was conferred on him, .Mr. Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia, said that the great honor of admission as a freeman of the City of London, was only incidentally personal to himself. Granted to him as a representative of Australia, it filled his cup of emotion, and almost robbed him of speech. The occasion filled his mind with the glorious images of the greatness of our destiny, The ancient, citadel of liberty—the greatest city of the world, whose traditions stretched back into the grey dawn of time; which existed before Caesar's legions, and had watched the sturdy British broods win the furthermost corners of the world—now bade Australia stand by her side as her equal, and dowered her with all the rights of her ancient citizenship. Serenely confident of victory, London stood and gathered Australia into her ample bosom, in fitting token of the part Australia had played in the war.

"LAND OF GLORIOUS PROMISE." Mr. Hughes proceeded eloquently to picture the Empire as it is to-day. "In the- hour of her greatest trial," he said, "what a thrill goes through all who boast British blood at the sign of a united people fighting with indomitable courage for all they hold dear. But. though we now pass through the valley of the shadow, yet we approach the land' of glorious promise, into which, if our self-saerifice prove us worthy, we shall enter."

Declaring that the British race had fount! its soul, Mr. Huglips paid an emotional tribute to the valorous dead and the gallant fighters in the field to-day. "I am proud indeed to be of their generation," he said.

MUST DEPEND THE EMPIRE! Visionaries, he proceeded, might babble about peace, but if the Empire was to be held we must be prepared to defend it. The British race must not shrink from the task which would daunt lesser men. Australia and Canada were both larger than the United States, and South Africa than France and Germany. The Crown colonies were thrice the size of the United States, yet the whole was peopled by only 15,000,00(1! No 'wonder the palms of nations inflamed with the lust of conquest itched to grasp these rich, vast, fertile lands. Was it not as clear as noonday that the strength and safety of the Empire lay in unity? llow could the scanty populations of the Dominions, if cast upon their own resources, hope to hold their great heritage? That day had not yet come.

NOT WEALTH, BUT I'KOFLE. "If we are to keep the Empire as a heritage for the British race, as we are resolutely determined to do," he said, "we must create conditions of environment whereby the population of Britain and her Dominions will rapidly increase and multiply, breeding a race of virile people. Wealth would not save us if the crop of men failed. The Empire's defence ultimately rested upon a National Empire policy, which would organise and promote the agricultural and manufacturing industries, thus ensuring to the great masses of the people those opportunities for employment, with conditions remunerative, and a standard of eoni£prt which were the just heritage of civilised people, and lacking which the British race would dwindle and degenerate, and our mighty Empire would crumble and decay. '•I have profound faith in the destiny of the British race," Mr. Hughes continued. "We ijre yet full of the ancient valor of onr race, despite conditions which would have long ago plunged lesser men into the abyss of degeneracy. I believe in rejoicing that it is so. The people's temper is such that realising fnllv the gravity of the situation, they are prepared to endure all things and undergo all sacrifices in order to attain decisive victory. Becaues of this spirit, I believe we shall not only emerge triumphant from the great struggle, but tliat we will be purged of dross, purified by the spirit of self-sacrifice, and prove ourselves worthy of the great opportunity which now beckons us on." (Loud cheers).

SPOKESMAN OF EMPIRE. The London press gavo long descriptions to the Guildhall presentation to Mr. Hughes, and reported his speech verbation. The London Evening Xews says:—"lt was the finest, oration that even Mr. Hughes, the spokesman of Empire, has delivered." ' The London Globe remarks that Mr. Hughes is the most popular recipient of London's highest honor in recent years. The London 1 Evening Standard comments thus:—"lt was an eloquent speech, and an urgent call to us to realise our great destiny."