Mr. Frederic Harrison delivered the usual New Year's address to
the Positivists at Newton 1;411 on Wednesday. For once he took the English side, in ipeaking of the im- broglio with America, though we do not know that he did mach to conjure the quarrel to rest by declaring that, "in the name of humanity," the struggle must not be. A large number of the people of the United States seem to say that "in the name of humanity" it must be. And we must admit with sorrow that there is at least as much in the bosom of humanity that makes for strife as there is that makes for peace. The general drift of the address was, as usual, in favour of small States and against great Empires ; but as Mr. Harrison now sees that the United States are rapidly becoming enamoured of the gloryt of Empire, and that if they gain the supreme command of two vast continents, the Imperial idea will lift them to more dangerous heights of power than it is ever likely to raise this comparatively small United Kingdom, Mr. Harrison applies himself energetically to the task of rebuking the United States. As for England, he raised his voice once more for the "little England" party, and deprecated any notion of striking a blow for the wretched Armenians, which would be, he thought, but the beginning of widespread strife and carnage. Mr. Harrison's leading political idea is to keep the globe as much subdivided as possible; but we doubt whether small, and, still more, infinitesimal, States do not quarrel more, and shed more blood in the end, than great Empires.
Previous page
