The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-13 00:00:00

THE BRITISH EMPIRE OF TO-DAY.

On Tuesday night, at a meeting of the Royal
Colonial Institute, held at the Westminster Palace
Hotel, Mr. G. E. Howard Vincent read a paper on
"The British Empire of To-day." The Duke of
Manchester presided.
Mr. Howard Vincent, after a brief introduction by
the chairman introduced his subject by remarking
that it was indeed marvellous to think that the
empire which had been established by the energy,
courage and devotion of the sons of Great Britain
and Ireland, either in battle,-science, or commerce,
extended over more than 70 times the area of the
mother country. If to these were added territories
under British protection we arrived at the stupen-
dous fact that the British empire covered nearly
one-fifth of the surface of the whole world, and
peopled by more than 300 million inhabitants of
various nationalities, with a trade amounting to
£1,000,000,000 sterling. In reference to the recent
Indian rising in Canada, Mr. Vincent said it was not
of an alarming character, and had been almost
entirely suppressed. The warning, however, would
not be lost on Canadian politicians that a military
organisation must exist, otherwise than on paper and
in theory, if it was ever to be other than a costly play.
thing. Speaking of the route to Australasia, the lec-
turer remarked that not manyyears would elapse before
all the difficulties confronting the great Lesseps in
the Isthmus of Panama would have been surmounted,
and Australasia would be brought between four and
five thousand miles nearer the mother country. It
was perfectly idle to suppose that the bulk of the
Australian trade in the days of costly steaming would
pass by other than the shortest route; yet with a
lack of foresight too great for condemnation in
words, no harbour, no coaling station had been
secured for the wilholm mistress of the seas between
Australasia and Panama. It was not altogether too
late to repair in some measure the neglect. Tahita
was French, Rafa had gone, but there was still one
group of islands left—he forbore to name it—with a
fine harbour and anchorage for a first-class squadron.
When one saw that the trade between Great Britain
and these colonies amounted to no less a sum than
120 millions annually, and that the invested British
capital exceeded 500 millions, it would appear super-
fluous to urge any further argument for maintenance
and cohesion of the Imperial connection. The eager-
ness to purchase the goods which in their substance
and manufacture reminded their possessors of
" home" was evidenced by the fact that the imports
from the United Kingdom into Australasia amounted
to no less than 32 millions, or three millions more
than those brought in from all the other nations of
the world. In conclusion, Mr. Howard Vincent de-
clared it to be his opinion that the British empire of
to-day would descend to our successors wealthy and
powerful beyond the knowledge of man.
Mr. Murray Smite, Agent-General for Victoria,
moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Vincent. He opined
that the disintegration of the empire would be one of
the greatest calamities possible. He believed in the
principle of Imperial federation, which he as a Colo-
nial supposed meant a greater participation in those
Imperial concerns from which they had hitherto been
debarred. (Cheers.)
Mr. J. L., Ohlson seconded the resolution, which
wa, unanimously passed:
Colonel Denison and other gentlemen having
addressed the meeting the proceedings closed.

"And you will not be mine until I have become
renowned I's "Not until then." "That's easy
coo Th. But tell me, in what profession would you
like to have me distinguish myself ?" "Oh—any,
any at all—as a lifelong explorer in Africa, for in'
stance.* _

Young wife : "I never knew my husband to lose
his presence of mind but once, and that was when we
were married. It was too absurd. Ile was as pale
cs a sheet, and it tOok him nearly five mintitPB to
find the ring." Old Bachelor (grimly) ! " lierhso
Le realised his imminent danger, madam."