The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-23
xar Resell On tho Colonial Policy Of
RnGlnnd.

i That Old ex.Premler OF EnBiHuus ra's
Russell. 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 yesterday, 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 Improvement made
| in naves made the question Of the relations Of
Great Britain with her colonies a grave one.
He argued in favor of maintaining intact the
colonial empire, and dwclt particularly on
preserving the union with the Canadas. He
wanted greater facilities for reinforcing 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 considered 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 foundation
of our mighty republican empire was laid by
her. The three millions Of oolonists at the time
Of the revolt from British rule have become
forty millions Of republican freemen. 1t is
fair to say, too, that the principles Of liberty
| and local self-government we're 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
| il not so prosperous and progressive. The
only exception to British success in the colo
MES are the West Indies. These were once
very fourishing and productive, particularly
the island Of Jamaica but when slavery was
abolished these declined and have not yet
| recovered their formef 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 Englishmen that the
sun never sets on the dominions of the Queen.
But il 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 proftably
occupied, has been her chief and constant aim.
And she has succeeded. The cost Of main
tanning the colonies has been paid over and
over again through commercial advantages
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
a great many OF these are the young men Of
aristocratic and influential families, and as a
consequence there is an earnest desire among
! that class to hold on to the colonies for the
sake of the Offices. They are too apt, conse-
quently, to lose sight Of what would be best
for the colonies and to study only their own
| immediate interests Still England is advanc-
| ing in liberal colonial policy and in accord
ance with the progress of the age. She is
| conceding more and more self-government to
| the colonists, both from necessity and with
view Of attaching more firmly the colonies to
herself.
| Still British pride and the interests of par
tcular governing class make England too
| tenacious to hold on to some of her colonies
| when il would be clearly to their advantage to
| be independent or to change their allegiance.
The United States have been greater blessing
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
fact. 1t would be the same, no doubt, with
! Canada and the other American colonies f
they were Tree or annexed 10 tue Cniteu STATES.
| Their growth is slow, comparatively. Immi-
grafton instead of going there to any great
extent actually leaves for 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
| Canadas, if they were Free and better also for
England. Great Britain should turn her
| attention to Asia as q colonial Power, and