The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-12
Why England Succeeded.

Senator Beveridge In several Of his cam
paign speeches, has called attention to
the fact that Great Britain. the most DEM
ocratic OF all nonarchies, Is the one coun-
try which has for the past one hundred
years made a success OF the business of
governing and developing dependencies or
colonies situated remote from the mother
country. From this the argument pro-
ceeds, on perfectly legitimate and logical
lines. that what Great Britain has done
in the past the United States Is thorough
iy equipped to do today.
Great Britain has made success OF the
business Of governing colonies for the
simple reason that It has taken with It
into the countries which have passed un-
der its control the fundamental principles
OF individual rights and individual liber-
ties which are the common heritage Of
all OF the English-speakIng people In the
one conspicuous instance In which Great
Britain made failure of colonial gov
eminent. that OF the thirteen American
colonies. the failure was due to a disre-
gard Of those fundamental principles. The
lesson was learned then and has never
been forgotten. The result IS seen
In the growth OF the great seif-governing
British colonies. with the administration
OF whose internal affairs the Brit
ish government never attempts TO inter-
fsre: which make their own laws. collect
their own revenues. and observe rieIdiy
every fundamental tenet Of the unwritten
British constitution. found likewise In the
amendments constituting the bill Of rights
in the constitution Of the United states.
Absolute monarchies have made. as
rule. a failure In their colonial systems
because of their refusal TO recognize what
the English-speaking people consider as
fundamental rights OF people a. home or
colonists abroad. The highest degree OF
Individual liberty 10 be found anywhere
in the world, save under the American
nag Is in the British self-governlng coll
onies. Colonies under other foreign domi-
nation are governed. as a practically uni
form rule. as military despotisms LIB
erty-loving people OF other na,ionalities
flock TO British colonies. as they do 10
the United states. They avoid other coll
onies. the government Of which presents
the very evils from which they were fiee-
ing when they left their native states.
The same laws. the same traditions o.
liberty under the law. and the same ai-
ministrative faculty possessed by the
British people are likewise the inheritance
OF the American people. The Americans
win bring 10 the task OF governing their
new possessions precisely the same quail
ties, though in a more refined form.
which have enabled the British 20 gov
ern colonies to the hearty satisfaction OF
the colonists themselves. Nowhere can
be found people more uniformly ana
heartily loyal to the home government;
than the people Of the British ssif-govern-
ing colonies. Proceeding on the same
Hines. taking into our new possessions the
same safeguards for individual rights and
individual liberties as cur people have AT
home. admitting the people OF the new
possessions to as large a share IN the
work OF government as they shoW them
selves capable OF using wisely. the sue
cess OF the American people ought 20 ~
at leas, as great as that which has fol-
lowed Great Britain In her colonial policy.