New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-23
GREAT ADMINISTRATOR.
ONE OF ENGLAND'S STATESMEN.

Eight Hon Sir George Ferguson Bowen G. c. NJ. G..
no; yo ~ Sssne svo, s DID, 40 AZ Longmans
Green e Co.
Sir George Bowen was Governor successfully
Of Queensland. New-Zeaand. Victoria. Mauritus
and Hong Kong, and during his thirty years of
almost unbroken colonial service he accomplished
more than is given TO many officials to achieve
few years ago the record Of snch services would
have had comparatively little attraction for that
English public TO which these volumes are
primarily addressed During the period in which
the leading English politicians were doing their
hest TO wcan the mother country from her colonial
possessions altogether by creating the belief that
colonies were a source OF weakness rather than
otherwise even n man of such signal ability as
Sir George Bowen might have found little
sympathy at home. But, as the editor of this
work observes, that feeling of indifference to the
colonies has now disappeared and las been
succeeded by a still stronger conviction Of their
Importance and value to the British Empire AS
often happens, the change was due to foreign
influences in the main. While the English had
been tending more and tO slight their colonies,
the other great Powers had been observing thosc
colonies with cnvious admiration. and had so
satisfied themselves of their importance as TO
determine that they, too. would possess similar
OUTLYING dependencies. When England saw that
France and Germany and Italy were entering
upon plans Of territorial expansion modelled upon
her own methods she began to realize that after
all the colonies might bc worth keeping. and this
feeling grew until it took shape in tho idea Of
Imperial Federation and in the Inauguration Of
those conferences and public Jub!icfS, the MANIFEST
and avowcd purpose of which was to bind TN"
colonies and the mother country more closely to-
gethcr.
To this end also Mr.. LancPoole has prepared
the volume before u.s. and as concrete illustra-
lion of how colonies ought to and may be gov
erncd il would bc difficult to bring forward any
thing more opposite Sir George Bowen is an en-
celent example of the high-class Englishman with
a strong sense Of duty. level brain. and an III
exhaustible capacity for work. Educated at the
Charterhousc and Oxford. he showed lntcllcctuaI
vigor at carly age While still at the uni
versty he was offered the honorable office OF
president Of the new Greek College in the lOnian
Islands. and he quickly proved bis administrative
capacity there The first real and serious test to
which he was subjected, however. followed his
appointment as Governor of Queensland. then in
the embryo form and requiring TO bc organlzcd
The young colony was FESTIVE and difficult to
handle. as young colonies generally are. Novel
conditions had TO be faced and provided for
Legislative judicial and administrative systems
had all 10 ne blocked oWt. y Eiflu Schtnt iii" "
he devised and the task of governing an immense
tract of country. sparscy inhabited, with narrow
means. had to be performed. Meanwhile a strong
current of immigration was rendering the tough
est problems still more difficult. 1t would not do
TO let things settle in wrong grooves and 1t was
very hard to prevent them from doing so.
Sir George Bowen proved himself the man Of
the hour lie met and ovcrcamc every difficulty.
lie Organized the colony in every direction. gave
il a true direction. avoided initial bundrrs and
through il all he secured and kept the confidence
and esteem of the people over whom he was SGT.
At this point the cha ractPr Of the man shows Itself
clearly, and the same experience follows him
throughout his long service In Queensland IN
New-Zealand, in Mauritius in Hong Kong. he
has the admiration and strong attachment of the
masses, and what is specially Significant the ell
tire confidence OF the weaker races Inc evil
dences here given Of his Sttnding with tho Ma
oris for instance is strongly in point. and il Is
10 I've remarked that not only the loyal tribes hut
those in arms against the royal authority mani
fest their trust in him. Wien transferred 10
New-Zealand the Maori War had been going on
for several years. There had been shocking bar
barities on both sides, and both sides were thor-
ouqhly and apparently hopc!cssly cmhl''r'ei.
more difficult situation for "A new Governor l" ne
introduced to could hardly Ike imagined But
Sir George proceeded with his characteristic cool
Judgment and in no long period had terminated
the evar and arranged n peace 50 carefully
grounded that it has endured ever since FROM
New-Zealand he was promoted 10 Victoria and
there he met trouble of a different character, yet
hardly less embarrassing The Nictorans had
entanged themselves in political quarrel Inc
two branches of the Colonial Legislature had got
together by the ears, and as somehow colonial
politios are always hotter and rIorc ranc0rous
than any other kind, popular feeling had become
greatly excited and there was danger that some
thing foolish or irreparable might ensue
Sir George Bowen first mastered the complex
situation, and then he prepared TO deal with IL.
lie was never arbitrary. He never Ohtrlded MS
royal commission. His policy was sulvc, friendly
and largely judicial. lie sought the confidence
of the leading men, encouraged them I" come u"
him for counsel, carefully abstalncd from provo
cation, smoothcd down aspcritlcS. and endcaNor'd,
while guiding them. to make them DeiirVe tiiat
they were carrying out their own Suggestions.
or course in the end they recognized the truth :;
but they were grateful 10 tie Governor who had
respected their amour proprc, ana "iieh '''
saw the bpnciccnt consequences OF his adVhc
thcy could not but admire and honor INN. ~"
solved the legislative problem, and then applied
himself TO the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT oi INV 'oio"' >
prosperity. Under his skiliul hands commerce
EXPANDED, trade ,hrivcd. and Victoria went for
ward by leaps and bounds, His term was an adj
ministrativc triumph. and when II drew toward
the close tie people of the colony oppressed 'i"ir
regret at losing good ruler ~ such rlcct thai
his term was heightened two years. After taxing
q few months nccGcd repo>c and recreation, SIR
George Bowen was appointed Governor OF MAIL
ri,ius. one of the mos, beautiful islands on the
clobc. Here. while the domestic difficulties were
not formidable external politics demanded keen
cyc and sensitive hand at the head of affairs, and
Sir George vindicatcd his reputation once more. at
the same time winning the affection OF the col
onists, as was shown subsequently when the
Colonies Exhibition was held and the Ex-Governor