The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-24
EARL RUSSELL ON THE COLONIAL
POLICY OF ENGLAND.


EARL RUSSELL ON THE COLONIAL
POLICY OF ENGLAND.
From the N: Y. Herald.
That old ex-Premier of England, Earl Rus
sell, is much exercised about the probable
fate of the British colonies, and particularly
about those in North America. We learn
through telegram from London, which was
published in our issue of Wednesday, that he
had moved in the House of Lords for COM
mission to inquire into the means whereby
union between England and her colonies may
be perpetuated. In the course of his remarks
he said that the great national ornaments
now on foot and the vast improvements made
in navies made the question of the relations
of Great Britain with her colonies a grave
one. He argued in favor of maintaining in
tact the colonial empire and dwelt particu-
larly on preserving the union with the Cana
das. He wanted greater facilities for rein
forcing the naval and military power in
Canada in case of an emergency, and he
expressed his regret at the withdrawal of the
garrison from Quebec an act which he con-
sidered both imprudent and impolitic.
England has been the greatest colonizing
nation in the history of the world, and she
may well be proud of the results. The foun-
dation of our mighty republican empire was
laid by her. The three millions of colonists
at the time of the revolt from British rule
has become forty millions of republican free
men. 1t is fair to say, too, that the princi-
Piles of liberty and local self-government
were instilled in the minds of these hardy
British colonists and were brought over from
the old country, though they have expanded
and become more fruitful since. The present
British-American colonies have become
little empire, though overshadowed by the
far more rapid growth of the United States.
The foundation of another empire of English
speaking people is laid in Australia. India,
though not colony in the strict sense of the
term, is under colonial rule, and is vast and
prosperous empire in itself. The settlements
in Africa at the Cape of Good Hope, and
other parts of that Continent are
taking deep root and spreading. There are,
besides, other colonial possessions in different
parts of the world of considerable Importance
if not SO prosperous and progressive. The
only exception to British success in the colo
nies are the West Indies. These were once
very tiourishing and productive, particularly
the island of Jamaica; but when slavery was
abolished these declined and have not yet re-
covered their former prosperity. The flag of
England floats over British territory on every
continent and in every part of the globe, and
it is the proud boast of Englshmen that the
sun never sets on the dominions of the Queen.
But it was not and is not glory alone that
England looked to in establishing and spread
ing her colonial empire. Commerce has been
her great object. To multiply her products,
to find employment for her capital to open
and extend markets for her manufacturers,
and to keep her vast commercial marine pro-
ftably occupied, has been her chief and con-
slant aim. And she has succeeded. The cost
of maintaining the colonies has been paid
over and over again through commercial ad-
vantages and profits. We are not surprised
therefore, that British statesmen cling to this
vast colonial empire, or that Earl Russell
pleads for maintaining it intact. But apart
from the profit and glory to the nation, the
aristocracy and governing class of England
find in the colonies profitable and honorable
positions for an army of English employees.
Of course great many of these are the young
men of aristocratic and influential families,
and as consequence there is an earnest de-
sire among that class to hold on to the colo
nies for the sake of the offices. They are too
apt, consequently, to lose sight of what would
be best for the colonies, and to study only
their own immediate interests. Still England
is advancing in a liberal colonial policy and
in accordance with the progress of the age.
She is conceding more and more elf-govern-
ment to the colonists, both from necessity
and with view of attaching more firmly the
colonies to herself. KAN ls.
Still British pride and the interests of a
particular governing class make England too
tenacious to hold on to some of her colonies
when it would be clearly to their advantage to
be independent or to change their allegiance.
The United States have been greater bless
| ing to England and to her commerce, as we'll
as to the world, than they would have been had
| they remained colonies. This is too apparent
to need argument and there is no British
statesman, we suppose, that will not admit the
xuox,II ha .doubf NTH
Canada and the other American colonies if
| they were free or annexed to the United States.
Their growth is slow, comparatively. Immi'
| grafton instead of going there to any great
extent actually leaves tor the more free, pros
| porous and progressive States on the border,
| and these colonies, SO long as they remain
such, must be overshadowed by this republic
1t would be greatly to their interest to be
annexed to the United States. That, indeed,
must be their destiny in the end, and states
men who only look to the welfare of the
people ought to prepare the way at once for
! that inevitable event. Earl Russell is short
sighted in this matter. 1t would be better
for those colonies that are full grown, like the
Oanadas, if they were free, and better also
| for England. Great Britain should turn her
attention to Asia as a colonial power, and
leave her distant English-speaking popula
tions to govern themselves. She is already
great Asiatic power, and may become mucl
| greater Her colonial mission henceforth il
! there. The British colonists, both in AmericI
and elsewhere, will, in the end, follow th'
example of the United States and become in
| dependent.
FINANCIAL POSSIBILITIES.
From the NJ r. Times.
What is meant when Congress is asked t.
mature ''a financial policy?Y The connection