Patriotism may indeed be but a larger form of selfishness, but it is a larger form. It does involve devotion to others. As long as men are men, it is so unlikely as almost to be impossible that patriotism will ever be replaced by cosmopolitanism. A great point in favour of the rule of democracy is its character-building power. It is customary in a certain class of society to abuse trade-unionism. People talk of the tyranny of trade-unionism; it would be as easy, perhaps more justifiable, to talk of the tyranny of Capital. The trade union has its counterpart in what are termed the "upper classes." For example, the British Medical Association is nothing but a trade union under another name. The trade union is an absolute necessity to the worker in modern society. _Laissez-faire_ has advantages up to a point; State control has advantages up to a point. The most successful nation will be that one which succeeds in making a judicious mixture of the two systems. The Englishman in his devil-may-care way does not trouble to persecute or oppress; his tolerant spirit, aided by the splendid devotion of a few great men, has, in the words of Seeley, built up a glorious free Empire "in a fit of absence of mind." You will never make the English people idealistic, but you will never conquer them on that very account. While the German talks and dreams of world-Empire, the Englishman smiles, puts his pipe in his mouth and goes off to found it by accident. The modern system of diplomacy is as vile as anything can be. Even in England it is the negation of popular government. Man's duty to his neighbour ought to be observed as well as the harsh and pitiless laws of trade and competition. The social conditions of our industrial towns to-day are a standing indictment of the _laissez-faire_ system. The great warrior is no more important than the humble toiler. Gladstone's finance was governed by the determination to spend as little as possible. It does not seem to be so good as that of Lloyd George, viz., to be prepared to spend a great deal provided you are sure it is for the benefit of the people. On a remark of Dr. Sarolea's _in re_ the alleged inherent antagonism between Europe and America on the one side and Asia and Africa on the other: "Absurd! If we are to be good Europeans we must first of all be good world citizens. The Asiatic is as much our brother as is the Belgian or the American." It is not the case that England has checked Germany's Colonial development. Germany has herself to blame--herself and destiny. But I must say that Germany had to some extent right on her side in the Morocco dispute.