"
"I've noticed some of them in terms of sentiment--affection
for the mother country--"
"Yes, that's lugged in. But it doesn't cover the moral
aspect," Lorne returned. "It's too easy and obvious, as
well; it gives the enemy cause to offend."
"Well, there's a tremendous moral aspect," Finlay said,
"tremendous moral potentialities hidden in the issue.
England has more to lose than she dreams."
"That's just where I felt, as a practical politician, a
little restless while you were preaching," said Lorne,
laughing. "You seemed to think the advantage of imperialism
was all with England. You mustn't press that view on us,
you know. We shall get harder to bargain with. Besides,
from the point of your sermon, it's all the other way."
"Oh, I don't agree! The younger nations can work out
their own salvation unaided; but can England alone? Isn't
she too heavily weighted?"
"Oh, materially, very likely! But morally, no," said
Lorne, stoutly. "There, if you like, she has accumulations
that won't depreciate. Money isn't the only capital the
colonies offer investment for."
"I'm afraid I see it in the shadow of the degeneration
of age and poverty," said Finlay, smiling--"or age and
wealth, if you prefer it."
"And we in the disadvantage of youth and easy success,"
Lorne retorted.
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