(_Verbatim Report._)
Mr. SPEAKER, Sir, What I mean to say, I venture to think is that the
British Empire--yes Sir--that is what I venture to think, and _I_ am
a young Member. For I do not believe--no not now--or in fact, when
otherwise. For envy and malice are together. I venture to think that
sometimes the British Empire. Yes Sir, for the enemies are at our
gates with the past and the future. When the sun sinks--not that it
follows--at least so I venture to think. You may believe me, Sir,
that it is farthest from my thoughts when the British Empire and the
sinking sun which I venture to think is--in point of fact the setting
sun, and I venture to think the British Empire, and that is I venture
to think was my proposal in the past--which has the terrors of the
present from generation to generation.
(_Revised Report._)
Mr. SPEAKER, Sir, at a time like the present--when the enemies of the
Empire are clamouring at our gates, when envy walks hand-in-hand
with malice, and our fate is in our own hands--we should be bold and
resolute. It is not for a young Member like myself to point out the
course that we should pursue, but I venture to think that, by ignoring
the terrors of the past with the courage of the present, we shall
avert the dangers of the future. It has been said--and truly
said--that the sun never sets upon the British Empire. Let us believe
in that sun, and find in its rays an earnest of that glory which was
the birthright of our ancestors, and which, should be the birthright
of our descendants from generation to generation.
* * * * *
[Illustration: ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.
_Antony_ ... JOHN BULL. _Cleopatra_ ... EGYPT. _Mecaenas_ ... H.
L-B-CH-RE. _Enobarbus_ ... GL-DST-NE.
_Mecaenas_ (_aside to_ ENOBARBUS). "NOW ANTONY MUST LEAVE HER UTTERLY."
_Enobarbus_ (_aside to_ MECAENAS). "NEVER; HE WILL NOT." (_Apart._) "AT
LEAST, NOT YET."
_Ant. and Cleo., Act II. Scene 2, adapted._
* * * * *