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 THIRD MARQUESS OF SALISBURY 311

maintenance of their estates and the welfare of their tenants ; patriots whose disinterestedness is above suspicion ; above all, men of the highest personal integrity can the nation afford to throw away their willing service at the bidding of those to whom tradition means nothing and the " hereditary principle " is a mere anachronism ? As far as the Cecil family is concerned, its energies are far from exhausted. There is cer- tainly plenty of talent left, and with the fine traditions of public service to inspire them, it is not unreasonable to hope that Cecils may yet arise whose achievements will equal, if they do not eclipse, those of their great ancestors.

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