These are sturdy and adventurous foreigners whom the grumpy officers
jostle and hustle about. For neither poverty, nor oppression, nor both
together can drive a man out of his country, unless the soul within
him awaken. Indeed, many a misventurous cowering peasant continues to
live on bread and olives in his little village, chained in the fear of
dying of hunger in a foreign land. Only the brave and daring spirits
hearken to the voice of discontent within them. They give themselves
up to the higher aspirations of the soul, no matter how limited such
aspirations might be, regardless of the dangers and hardship of a long
sea voyage, and the precariousness of their plans and hopes. There may
be nothing noble in renouncing one's country, in abandoning one's
home, in forsaking one's people; but is there not something remarkable
in this great move one makes? Whether for better or for worse, does
not the emigrant place himself above his country, his people and his
Government, when he turns away from them, when he goes forth propelled
by that inner self which demands of him a new life?