, 1870-07-07
ENGLAND AND HER COLONIES
Lord Russell ON the Colonial Policy
OF n Grcnt Empire.

Lord Russell on the COLONIAL Fo4cy
OF n GKent Empire.
III the House Of Lords, June 81, Lord Rus
sell delivered what WAS not go much speech
as an interesting historical lecture or essay on
the relations between the mother country and
the colonies, especially III reference to the
defence Of the latter. In noticing the changes
which had taken place, both in the army aud
the t1eet, since the peace Of 1915, he remarked
upon the apparent absence Of any distinct mud
government should endeayor to realize; and
expressed his doubte OF short .enlistments for
the army as hazardous experiment He en-
dorsed Tho principles LAID down in Lord Greys
book, that the colonies added to the etrength
aud greatness Of tho empire, and that tho
maintenance Of n predominant military force
in those colonies where there were mixed
races was a check upon internal dis
turbances. He could not conceive how
anybody could doubt that we were
bound in honor to defend tho colonies.
As regards New Zealand, the offer OF loan
military aid; but he strongly condemned the
withdrawal Of the harrison from the fort Of
Quebec. In one Of Drydea's plays man and
bis wife were brought upon the stage who told
each other that they bud loved as long as they
could, but that now they must part, their love
being exhausted. That, however, was an i'm
moral suggestion Of very immoral poet, and
colonial policy Of great empire. It would be
not merely an evil, hut a crime, to do ANYTHING
to weaken the attachment Of the colonies to
the mother country. With touch Of sarcasm
he complimented Lord Granville on his grad
uni progress in tho study Of tho question,
which be hoped would lead him at last toaound
conclusions, and deprecated the somewhat too
pLilosophic calmness with which the Colonial
Secretary regarded the troubles and mlsfor-
tunes OF the colonists. lie ended BY moving
an address to the Queen for commission Of
inquiry On the subject.
Lord Northbrook's reply was substantially
thst tho true policy was to stronghold the in
dependence and native RESOURCES of the colo
nists BY making them rely upon themselves ;
that as far aa it had been carried out this poll
that Us regards the distribution OF our furres
the principle adopted WAS to trust to our naval
supremacy, mud concentrate our troops AZ much
as possible at home. Az to Canada, be
showed that very liberal arrangements had
been m1de BY the Imperial Government for
putsing the colonists III tho best position for
defending themselves. They had been pro-
yided with Snyder rifles, i'm portant fortitica-
tious, and railway from Quebec to Halifax,
Which would be very useful for the movement
OF troops. The proposed inquiry would be too
gigantic in its scope for any commission, and
would also trench on the responsibility OF the
Executive
Lord Grey also objected to putting the gov
erument OF the country iuto commission in
this way Sooner or later, however, tho policy
Of successive governments on this subject
must end in the dissolution Of our colonial
empire, and the principles which ought to reg
ulate that great organization ought to be TO-
considered before it was quito too late.
Lord Granville testified the proceedings OF
his department, quoting the prompt repulse Of
the Fepians as proof OF the capacity Of the
Canadians to take care Of Themselves; aud de-
clared that the resolution implied something
very like vote OF want Of confidence in the
government ; Lord hasse a,;a dsc'aiming 1 apy ~
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