No sane person now suggests that the
foreign policy of the country should be dealt with by the
_laissez-faire_ policy. No one would dare openly to contend that the
national policy should be one of 'drift,' although I admit that there
are many most excellent persons who by their attitude seem to resent any
attempt to steer the ship of State along a definite course as being an
impious attempt to usurp the functions of Providence, whose special
business they conceive this to be.
"I want to make one thing quite clear, that what I am advocating is not
merely a change of fiscal policy, not merely or even necessarily what
is called Tariff Reform--although this may, probably will, incidentally
follow--but a fundamental change in our ideas of government as applied
to economic and national matters. The fact is that the whole concept of
modern statesmanship needs revision. But England has been, and is, the
chief of sinners. Quite apart from the idea of a self-contained Empire
there is the idea of Britain as an organized nation. And the British
Empire as an organized Empire, organised for trade, for industry, for
economic justice, for national defence, for the preservation of the
world's peace, for the protection of the weak against the strong. That
is a noble ideal. It ought to be--it must be--ours."
An extract from another notable address will reveal his gift of words.
Commenting on the frightful price in human life and treasure that the
Empire was paying, he said:
"Let us take this solemn lesson to heart.
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