So They Are Told Little Except Evil Of The Great Heritage Outside, And
Are Kept Compounded In Cities Under Promise Of Free Rations And
Amusements.
If the Empire were threatened they would not, in their own
interests, urge England to spend men and money on it.
Consequently it
might be well if the nations within the Empire were strong enough to
endure a little battering unaided at the first outset - till such time,
that is, as England were permitted to move to their help.
For this end an influx of good men is needed more urgently every year
during which peace holds - men loyal, clean, and experienced in
citizenship, with women not ignorant of sacrifice.
Here the gentlemen who propose to be kept by their neighbours are our
helpful allies. They have succeeded in making uneasy the class
immediately above them, which is the English working class, as yet
undebauched by the temptation of State-aided idleness or
State-guaranteed irresponsibility. England has millions of such silent
careful folk accustomed, even yet, to provide for their own offspring,
to bring them up in a resolute fear of God, and to desire no more than
the reward of their own labours. A few years ago this class would not
have cared to shift; now they feel the general disquiet. They live close
to it. Tea-and-sugar borrowing friends have told them jocularly, or with
threats, of a good time coming when things will go hard with the
uncheerful giver. The prospect appeals neither to their reason nor to
their Savings Bank books.
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