The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-12
GREAT BRITAIN'S EXPERIENCE
WITH HER COLONIES.

In view of what is happening ait this
time to h two great A~nglo-Saxon, |
English speaking peoples it MAY be in
structive to turn to the past expert
ence of nations in dealing with con-
Guered provinces and remo,e peoples !,
brought into subsection by greater
powers. 1t is a fact, as any reader
may learn from a study Of Tropical
Colonization a work of merit by AL
Ieyne ireland that the onquererS have
had much trouble and lot very great
profits some times. 1t is a practical dis
cussiOn and affords much of the very
information so desirable, SO mucn
needed by the American people at this
time of expansion" and hurrah and
departures from the old leadership and
the fundamental principles of govern
ment.
There is a curious craze possessing
three or four nations at present. Eng
land, Germany, Spain, France and the
republican administration of our own
country and it's hackers. all accept the
idea almost unchallenged that they can
govern the tropical countries as tenn
perate countries lave been governed.
That is the idea hat engrosses n
infatuates. But Mr.. Ireland shows an
a work a very different possibility. The
large, ample experience of the past
teaches quite another lesson, and the
English people at least, if no others,
should understand it we'll. 1t is known
that there has been no real success at
tending the administrations in the
tropics except that of severity and
Iordship. So plain is this, so COM
plete has been the failure of all ait
tempts to c~olonize h people of the
tropics other than by a rigid govern
ment, one of autocratic powers, that
1t is strange to see people now think
ing any other course possible, and
planning to try the impossible. When
there has not been a strong govern
ment there has been complete failure.
a standing military force has been a
necessity all the time to quickly deal
with turbulence, unrest, incipient rev.
olutionS. There lave been no eleva-
ton of the natives, no inspiration i'm
parted, no lofty ideals implanted.
Every thing has been unstable, and no
educated spirit has appeared looking
after an independent and benignant
government. An able paper in The
Dial On Problems of Colonial Gov
eminent" says, and it is opposite and
well worth copying:
Sufficient representation in local
administration has been granted TO
satisfy an indOlent people of a low
grade of intelligence and limited edu-
cation, and the sordid commercial
spirit has been the controlling infiu-
sence in the past, with its ~unspeakable
OUtrageS. and OF the present, with its
reforms, because of h growth among
h people of the home government OF
the feeling of the moral necessity for
a more enlightened policy. During
these centuries there has always ex-
listed the necessity Of a standing mil
ftary force of the white races, with a
small proportion of the native or mix
ed elements, to swell the roll of private
soldiers"
The surest way to quiet the half civ
Aized rulers who were always ready
for trouble has been found to pay them
IAN assured income"-to make them
perpetual pensioners.
Mr. Ireland discusses the United
States in connection with its
and expansions. He sees no adyanta
TO be gained any where except it may
he in Hawaii. where nearly all Of the
people are more or less educated. He
kays even there it would be prudent
make "a judicious Limitation of the
anchise." Porto Rico offers no such
d. Self government can never be
ely given to the people there. He
IS the possibility of any hasty at
ito carry out this idea in Porto
Ghere. with a population of $685.
Ar cent. or more of whom can
her read nor write, the mixed
and Spanish methods, together
6ustom and heredity, have pro-