or； when they will be sought for； when they will be paid for — paid any price to get them。 And I venture to say to you： Get them while you can； get them from home； get them from England。
Now； gentlemen； if I live； within a month or two I hope to be able to show you a plan I have devised and which I hope； which I even dare to think； may show you how you can get a good many of these people。 I will say no more of that now； except that I trust you will agree with me when you read it； and that you will let no obstacle stand in your way； but will all put your shoulders to the wheel and for the sake of your country； and for the sake of all concerned； will try to help to bring into your splendid land Englishmen who will be made available to you； I hope； in many thousands。
I am beginning to be like one of your members of parliament； I fear I am catching the disease。 I will only add this： That all the world is mad on trade； all the civilised world； at least； has got the idea that wealth is everything。 I controvert that statement； I say that wealth is nothing。 What is wealth without men and women to use it and spend it？ I remember once writing a story in which I represented certain men shut up in a cave and surrounded by all the diamonds and all the gold of a continent。 And they were starving。 I would like to ask you of what use were those diamonds and that gold to them？
In the same way； of what use is wealth unless you have men and women — healthy men and women — these are the real wealth of the nation。 You remember the old Greek fable of Antaeus； how； whenever he fell to earth he arose fresh and strong。 So it is with us。 Do not believe； gentlemen； that wealth is everything。 Wealth； I maintain； is nothing pared to flesh and blood； nothing as pared to healthy children； nor is pomp nor any other thing — these are nothing。 The strength of a people； gentlemen； is not to be found in their Wall Streets； it is to be found in the farms and fields and villages。 I will only add just this one word — that I do hope that what I have so humbly； so inadequately tried to say before you may perhaps go deep into the minds of some of you and set you thinking。 For myself； I can only say that I have tried to carry out this task — not the task of speaking； but the bigger one — with a single heart； because I believe in its necessity； because I believe that no man can serve his generation better than by trying to point out these things and try to make the people think。 If I have done that； gentlemen； I have not lived in vain。 All that I should ask to be said of me when I am gone is this： “He did his best。”
The End
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