The times., 1900-12-30
Colonial GoNcrnmcnt.

tienry =. MOTIFS, Is an EXHAUSTIVE history
in two volumes of colonization move
ments from the earliest times 10 the
present day. The author begins with the
primitive migrations Of Assyria and Phoe-
nicia, and ends with the colonial system
of England and American affairs in the
Philippines. There is an immense amount
of interesting information in the book,
and it will prove most valuable as work
of reference. The only fault which can
be found with it is a slight carelessness
in diction here and there and the use OF
trite phrases.
The chapters on Greek, Phoenician and
Roman colonization do not differ mate
rally from those which may be found in
any ancient history. The value OF the
work lies in the collection and correlation
of the history of all colonies, task which
has not before been so we'll done. The
history of Roman colonies is the first
chapter which is especially interesting,
for in it Mr.. Morris begins to trace the
principles of a great colonizing power.
He points out the fact that the immense
centralizing force of Rome was at once
her strength and her weakness. 1t made
the Empire strong by weakening the colo
mics. The whole tendency was centripetal
instead of centrifugal, and the latter force
is indispensable to successful colonial
tion. Men must see some prospect of
power, fortune and usefulness in the colo
nies or they will not stay there. That is
where Englands plan differs from that of
ancient Rome. TO the advantage of the
former.
The second part of this history deals
with the colonization of the Middle Ages
Venetian, Florentine, Portuguese, and |
Spanish, the rise of Dutch colonization /
IN the East and of French colonies in the /
Antilles and in Canada. Mr.. Morris 1
points out here that French colonies be- |
came improbable and failed from purely |
economic reasons He says:
Every public officer interested IN his J
own individual gain than in the universal well
fare Consequently, expenditures inordi-
nately large, economy was Impractical and un-
needed finances were in a deplorable condition.
The company or Crown-as it hsppened-at home
oftentimes robbed by the peculation of its own
agents constantly seeking means TO recoup
Its losses by devising new schemes OF oppression
over the masses of the population Little, il
any, freedom, and few political rights vouch-
safcd the settler; in every aspect of his life he
was at the mercy of master beyond the At
lantic, that of the latter's avaricious and
fanatical substitutes in New France.
So long as the privileged corporation survived
and wherever it omnipotent-as for example,
In the fur trafic-2ll trade reserved to ii.
3
sions Of Spain and Portugal, foreigners might
reside in the dependencies; otherwise the mo-
nopoly was quite unrestricted. French vessels
alone might carry goods to and from Canada
The company, having absolute supervision over
the imports and exports could dictate just the
quantity OF every article sent to French America,
and of merchandise shipped from it; thus the dis
uibution Of supplies WIS entirely in its hands.
European commodities placed on the Canadian
market were, therefore, notwithstanding they
might be of inferior quality. quoted at extrava-
giant figures; while, on the contrary, when raw
products were bought for expectation, merely
nominal prices were paid, insignificant
pared with the real value of the goods for Eu-
ropean sale BY this falsely conceived system
of netting speedy and fabulous profits. any pos
sibiiity of promoting industry and securing
durable progress in prosperity and wealth was
banished. Even the Indians, who were in those
times permitted TO deal with the eolon;sts-as
ssgaeious in business they in war
preferred TO carry the booty OF their huntsman's
skill over the frontier 70 the neighboring Eng
lish and Dutch establishments where their efforts
were more generously rewarded.
These things are worth noting, in view
Of the newly acquired possessions of the
United States.
The trouble with France, according TO
Mr.. Morris, was that she attempted to
create artificial conditions of prosperity. |
In the second volume begins the his
tory of English colonization. The author
thinks that the methods OF England in {
this respect resembled those of Greece.
French systems was that the latter were
hunting large and suddenly made for
tunes, while the former were content to |
take up their abode in the new land for
life, wrestling their fortune from the soil
with patient labor. Mr.. Morris says that | !
the colonial policy of England has for the
last hundred years shown only one in
variable characteristic; that is, the aim !
to develop the colony by attention to its !
interests till it reaches the position of as .
eociate rather than dependent. Australia, |
Canada, and Cape Colony prove that in
the purely Saxon colonies of the British
Empire this treatment has been tried
successfully. There is a collection OF :
statistics at this point in the book, giving
some interesting information regarding |
the financial condition of the British EN- /,
pire. /,
The author regards New Zealand as |
one of the most promising of these colo
nial dependencies. pointing out the fact ,
that ii is a young colony, and has never
been recruited by convicts.
In dealing with South Africa, Mr.. Nor !
ris takes practically the same view as
that maintained by various English ;
writer's, that the Boer policy was so hope
lessly re.rogressive and detrimental to /,
the interests of the Republics themselves i
and the whole Of South Africa that it !
could not last. !
There is but little effort, however on
the part OF this author to deal in general .
principles. He simply gives collated :
facts and leaves the reader to make out !
an argument. He indicates here and |
there. as will be seen from the above re- s
sumo, the faults which he considers fatal
to this, that or the other system of colo
Dization, but he spends little time in
celebrating theories. In short, the book !
is history, work of reference pure and /
simple. II is perfectly plain TO the reader
that when the central power disregards {
the true interests of the colonies, and
hence makes il improbable for colonsts !
of the better class TO settle there, no en- !
pire can prosper, since this means the y
concentration of the intellect, wealth. and | ]
executive ability at home, where 1t is not /
all needed, and the leaving OF outlying
dependencies to unframed or mischievous r
hands. Further than this, Mr. Morris n
lays down no rules for successful admin S
istration. He supplies his book with a Z
thorough index and long list of works c
which he has consulted, and from which | d
he has drawn his material, and anyone n
who wishes to study with thorouehness
the subject of colonization cannot do bet O
ter than to read this book, and II possi- a
BILE. consult in addition the authorities c
who have furnished the material for it. | y
(New York: The Macmillan Company v
$4,000 II
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