"WE TALK BIG."

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 149, 25 June 1908, Page 2

"WE TALK BIG."

BUT WE ARE VERY LITTLE

WHAT BISHOP JULIUS THINKS

(Post Special.) S PALMERSTON NY, Monday. Bishop Julius, speaking at a men's service here yesterday, at which Lord Plunket was present, referred to the rise and decline of nations. In .the course of his remarks he said there were signs of'a change in the working of the human mind. Take v Soerialism: everybody was talking atkmt it. Some hoped it would come, Others feared it. Some prayed God that if it came it would come in their children !s time. When it did come

would there be absolute revolution? Was there not in this a definite sign that something was to which must imperil • every existing order? Were, we prepared, or were we like other nations who had turned their back and faded into nothingness because of their unbelief? *He believed in the old saying that"..the- nation that was prepared for war was the j nation that could best afford to dwell in peace: and how about the Dominion of New Zealand? We were simply playing with the question of defence. ' The volunteers had done what they could, and he believed they were animated by a real desire to serve their country; but what could such a small number do ? Every man in the Dominion ought to learn how to hold.&tfiflje and how to, use it. The ' crisis 'wotiH4"*ta,ke the form of war, and the igfrestioii was were- we prepared? Itjtiras not our treaties and alliances that would save iis, but the fact that we were worthy of keeping and preserving. ,If we : God. would keep. *is> The-question canto:;. Had we got ah horizon? Itf a iSSri.., ■We had a great idea of, building an* etnpire, and . were always talking!. about it ais^if mere bigness was bet-. ter than power '- We went about in hysterical fashion crying,r" Rule Britannia,"/and .playing our. .little tin trumpets1, and saying what aj great nation we were. There was no -horizon there. He loved New ..Zealand, and that was why he spoke as he did.We were th¥ narrowest people on earth. There might be people who had a horizon, but they were^notjn New Zealand.' W^e thought that New Zealand was the hub of the universe,, and that the Old Country was'de-' pendent upon us, "but bless' your hearts," he continued, " we' are dependent on England for the very breath we breathe. Let her close her markets, and we are done. The fact, is we are very little anci we talk big." The New Zealande," was not even as big as his country. With him* it was a question of his class or his party, and that was what he called his horizon. Men might iay there was not much- to do, and that an individual could do nothing, but the Empire had been built up by individuals, and everything depended upon what each man was going to do: whether he was going to live a noble life or live a life of ease and pleasure that would eventually bring decay, upon the nation. It was essential that «very man of the Empire should recognise the necessity for. this sacrifice, and help forward \the life of the Empire with a, little less bragging, a little less boastfulness, a little less big talking, and. a great deal more earnest, honest, faithful service. In conclusion, his Lordship said that if the Empire ever fell into ruin it would not be becaiise her Army failed her, or her Navy was weak, but because her people were incapable of that sacrifice by which alone a nation lived. . , '