Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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10 Empire Day 1958 It has become the fashion in recent years to regard the word Empire ' ' as something which must be spoken in hushed whispers. It is also the fashion in ceitain quarters to regard the words Colony and colonialism as w,ords of shame. It is my purpose today to try to persuade you that, far from these words denoting something shameful, they are in fact, when quali- fied by the adjective british words of which we can feel extremely proud. Indeed, if my arguments are not sound, there is no reason why we should be celebrating here today about a revered aJiniver- sary known as Empire Day, which we celebrate as a whole holiday tomorrow. Tomorrow ' s date, May 24th, is the anniversary of Queen Vic- toria ' s birthday. She was born on May 24th., 1819. and ae you have no doubt learned in your hisitory classes she reigned as Queen for over 60 years, during which time she assumed the title Empress of India in the year 1876. Now Bermuda is Britain ' s oldest self-governing colony — and we are mighty proud of that fact. Next year we celebrate the 350th. year of our founding. I don ' t believe one person could be found in Bermuda who would say he is ashamed of being a colonist from Ber- muda — and if such a person could be found the best thing to do with him would ibe to ship him off to Russia or China, so that he could learn what it means to be a citizen of a really free country. For the last cenairy and a half British Colonial policy has been administered on intelligent and benevolent lines. We learnt a very salutar y lesson from the revolt of what used to be the American colo- nies, which became self-governing after the War of Independence; and since then Great Britian has adopted the view that her colonies should be treated as a trust, and that the people in these colonies must be educated and trained in g;overnment until the time arrives when they are capable of governing themselves intelligently. Britain always hopes that during the time these colonies are ad- ministered from London there will be built up such a bond of affection and loyalty to the British Crown that when the moment for self- de- termination arrives the newly created sovereign state will elect to continue in the association of free nations owing fealty to the British crown. This association is known as the British Empire, and it has been one of the greatest forces for good which this world has ever kn own. And don ' t let anyone ever try to tell you otherwise.

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9 ber 11th., 1957; the Caledonian Ball art; the Castle Harbour Hotel, Nov- ember 29th., 1957; the playing into Hamilton Harbour of the H.M.S. Ulster , for her Christmas visit into the town on Deciember 23rd., 1957; the opening of Agricultural Show, January 9th 1958; the (open- ing of Rugby Week at the B.A.A. Field on March 30th, 1958; and a performance for the College Students at Fort St. Catherine pn Aprii 2nd., 1958. This shows that the band is not losing any poipularity B, R. H. -oOo Front and Reid Street East AIR CONDITIONED Week Days 8.15 until 6.30 — Thursdays 8.15-1.00 Fridays and Saturdays — 8,15-8.00 p.m. Self Service Self Service Frozen Juices Dairy Produce Dry Groceries Frozen Meats Frozen Vegetables Frozen Breads CHECK-OUTS Free Delivery To Your Car G— Fro-nt Street 2— Reid Street

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11 Unfortunately the words Emperor and Empire have been brought into disrepute by people like the German Emperors or Kaisers who ruled as autocratic monarch, and by the cruelty and oppression practiced by the hereditary Emperors of Russia, and now carried on very similar lines by rulers like Stalin and Kruschev, who are just as despotic rulers as their Imperial predecessors were. NiOw the people in the German and Russian Empires have never known real freedom s Joh as is enjoyed by every individual Sn the British Empire — freedom under the law to go where one likes to, do what ,one likes, and to say what one likes, even if one says unkind things about our rulers or our Government. A system of bullying prevails in this sort of Empire, and it gives the word Empire a very bad name in the eyes of freedom-loving people. So it has — alas ! — become the practise among many people to drop the term Empire , and to speak of the British Empire as the ' Britiah Commonwealth of Nations ' ' . Many people like myself regret this greatly — for the word Commonwealth would seem to imply the pooling of resources among those participating — and this is by no means the case. But this new-fangled description of the British Empire has probably come to stay and, I expect you will have to adopt it. And as long as the spirit of devotion to duty, and of bravery and enterprise which went to build this British Empire are not tarnished the change of name probably won ' t matter very much. You may have read of the tour round the British Empire recently undertaken by Mr. MacMillan. On his return to Great Britain he gave an account fyf his travels to the Royal Empire Society, and described what he called a thrilling experience . Everywhere he went he was impressed by the affection shown for the Mother Cjountry and the Crown, and it is quite obvious that the h ope of which I spoke just now is nearly always being amply realised He saM of his travels in Irdia .... (This paper from which I have been reading is called United Empire and is the journal of the Royal Empire Society, of which a branch has recently been organised in Bermuda, and is being officially inaugurated tomorrow. I very much hope that you will all becpme members of that society, and persuade your parents to become members. Now that our garrison has been withdrawn, and our R oyal Naval establishments so greatly reduced it becomes more important than ever that the ties which bind us to the Mother Counry and to the other self-governing countries and colonies which constitute this great assofdation of free peoples should be carefully preserved and fostered. That indeed is the aim of this Society of which I have just