The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-05

Of British colonial government is that it is
made for peoples and not peoples for the
government. It's objective point is to an
glicize countries and peoples and make them
willing part of the British empire, and the
form of government that will best. accom-
plish this IS the one adopted, provided al
ways that it recognizes British authority
and supremacy. 1t is fundamental prin-
ciple with Great Britain to govern her col
onies with the least possible friction and in
terfere as little as possible with local gov
eminent, traditions and usages. The British
colonial empire comprises ten great colonies
having what is called responsible govern
ment." namely: Canada, New South Wales,
Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, West
Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, the Cape
and Natal Each Of these governments has
an agent general to represent it in London.
In addition to these there are smaller col
Onies and protectorates as follows:
Antigua Bahamas Barbados, Basuto
Land, Bermuda. British Guiana, British
Honduras. CeylOn, Dominica, Falkland
islands, Fiji Gambia, Gibraltar, Gold Coast,
Granada, Hong-KOng Jamaica, Lagos, Lee
ward islands, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat,
St Helena, St Kits and Nevis, St. Lusia,
St Vincent, Seychelles islands, Sierra Leone,
Straits Settlements singapore, Penang and
Aalacca, and native states of Perak, Selan-
gOr, Pahang and Negri, Sembilan), TObagO,
Trinidad, Turks islands, Virgin islands,
Africa, British East Africa, Cyprus. Niger
Coast Protectorate and Uganda Protector
ate.
Each of these colonies is represented in
London by a crown agent, appointed by the
British colonial secretary and having force
of clerks, consulting and inspecting engi-
neers, chemists, architects, etc. This is a
skeleton outline of the British colonial sys-
tenn. The colonies themselves comprise forty
distinct and separate governments, besides
large tracts of country not yet organized and
under the direct supervision of the secretary
of state for foreign affairs. OF the forty Or
ganized administrations eleven have elective
assemblies and responsible governments, and
the rest have different degrees of local gov
eminent and imperial control. There are al
most as many different kinds of government
in the British colonies as there are colonies.
They resemble each other only in general
features, all alike being under the direct con-
troll of the imperial government, the aim in
each case being to adapt the government to
locai conditions ana 10 ueVeIop lAe senlIIIlehl
of local government and loyalty to the crown
side by side
American statesmen should study the Brit
ish colonial system carefully, with view of
mastering its fundamental principles and the
secret of its success in dealing with various
tribes and races and adapting itself to native
institutions, traditions and prejudices Prob
ably there is not British colony or depend
ency in the world that is not better off than
it would have been if left to itself. The
British colonial system has been a potent
factor in the advancement of civilization. 1t
should be the aim of American statesmen to
incorporate its best features in the govern
ment of our new possessions. We should try
and do at least as well, if not better.