BRITONS NOT DECADENT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 865, 11 July 1910, Page 5

BRITONS NOT DECADENT.

LORD MORLEY REBUKES THE CROAKERS. Tho Prince of Wales was the .cuesfc of the Royal Academy of Arts at the anniversary banquet at Burlington House recently. Sir E. J. Poynter, tho President, welcomed the guests. Yiscaunt Jiorle}", the Indian Secretary, in reply to the toast of "His Majesty's Ministers," said: "I was talking the other day to a very distinguished traveller who had just returned from visiting some of our most import-ant colonies, and he said to me: 'Well, the impression is that the Old Country is rather failing,' that there is a sort of atmosphere of decadence about it.' AH 1 can say is, with a pretty good opportunity, I think, of judging, i do not believe a word of it,. (Cheers.) '

"It is quite true that this country, both the great political parties in it, and all the political parties, and they are now more than adequate in numbers —(laughter)—they are in a position we shall all agree, of singular difficulty. AVhy? Because, certain questions, containing in them the seeds of great, change and new departure, have come to tho front. We are at the crossroads, and I think the country, though it is not convenient for tho immediate moment, is taking its time for needful deliberation as to the particular road it shall follow. Nobody will deny the importance of tho machinery of Goy-. ernment, but the real thing, you will all agree, the foundation of all things, is the character of your people. (Cheers.) I, for. one, after a greatmany years, too many years, of public life, of close contact with 'great bodies of men of all classes, declare that I sec no signs whatever that the people of this kingdom are not just as sane, just as honest, just as brave, just as highhearted as they ever were in tlia best periods of our history. (Cheers.) "But, tho croakers say, 'The politician, what of him?' Wnll, I have only one circumstance to remind this assembly of and that is that there have been two .or three debates on the highest themes that can test- the quality of public men. There have beei: two or three debates -in both Houses, and I do not scruple to say that in both Houses and on botli sides no debates have over shown more admirable temper of mind, a more eleva-ted desire, each party taking its own viow, to find out what is the best for the prosperity of tho community and tho power of 'be State. (Cheers.) I think you will forgive mo for having skated on this thin ice, but. if you are to talk about a Ministry and about political affairs, it is as well to present to anybody who is good enough to listen to you the real aspect of the thing." (Hear,, heap.)