, 1882-05-03

NIhG Nv 1880
TO bear burdens it does not deserve, and I
can assure you that not only myself but
everyone of my predecessors have sttiven
most earnestly, most zpaIOusIy, and most
disinterpsted ly to do their duty both to
the colonies and 10 The Empire. (Cheers.)
I do not pretend to DO more than Trey
have done in that respect of course, my
virws NAV differ from theirs in matters of
detail policy but of this | I'm sure, you
have never bad in my experience a Colo
MIA! Minister who has not done his best.
(I4ear, hear.) II you reflect on history you
will find that We have not bad for mauy
generations past corruptible Ministers or
Governors, and more than that, that our
colonial Governors have been in all cases
men against whom not a shadow of suspi-
cion has been cast. This, gentlemen, is
not only a credit to the service, but also
to the Empire, while it at the same time
marks no small advance in our national
character. II is, | maintair, a very great
credit TO our public men that we should
be able to select governors tor our colo
MES who, whatever blame may attAch 10
them for tbeir administration, have never
had any charge of %wrongdoing brought
against them. (Arplapse.) Il has been
rightly said by Mr.. Crum-E Ewing that one
OF the most responsible duties which fall
upon q Colonial Secretary is the choice
of the Governor whom he shall recommend
to Her Majesty. From the manner in
which you nave received Sir Henry Irving
this evening, | think l may fairly say that
you have ratified the choice that l have
made. cloud cheers.) 1t WAS asked that
the Government should appoint one who
wasa tried aud efficient administrator, and
venture to think that no one will deny
that Sir Henry Irving bears that character.
(Hrar. hpar) lie has been Iorg and tho
roughly tried, especially in West Indian
affairs, and We know and you know that
he is an aole and efficient administration.
Therefore I think | may confidently augur
for him a continuance Of his successful
career in the colony TO which he is gong.
(Hear, hear) Now I will say n word
upon the COLONY itself, l am speaking to
gentlemen who are intimately acquainted
with the afflifs of British Guiana. OF
course the Colonial Secretary can have
but a general view OF the multitudinOus
affairs brought brtore him, aud OF the
West Iuties, as OF other subjects, he can
only have a knowledge derived from in
formation from without. But | COZ Tess to
having felt that the West Iudips deserve
the greatest consideration from the Co
verrment ct this country. Clear, hear.)
As il has been truly sail by Sir George
Chambers, those COLONIES have passed
through great aud severe trials; they have
had TO bear the bruut Of a great and phi
lanthrophic measure one which, willie
rejecting the utmost credit on this c0un-
Try, fell heavily, and necessarily heavily,
upon the Wts' Indian proprietOrs. Tie
residents in the West Indies have had to
battle long years with difficulties prOba-
bly, greater than ever beteI men engaged
in such work as they had to conduct. 1t
is now said that in some at least OF these
co%IOuies, especially IN British Guiana,
they have su;muunted their difficulties.
(Htar, hear.) Great credit is certainly
due TO them for having done SO but we
may be permitted to enquire into the
causes of that change. The main cause
is, without doubt, TO be found in the
system OF immigrant labour thOt has been
adopted. l may say at once that quite
agree with those speakers who have con-
tended for The importance OF encouraging
immigration. CLEAR, hear.) II should,
in my opinion, be strengthened 10y all
legitimate means, aud | would advocate