The Irish standard., 1902-11-15
WHAT is BRITISH IMPERIALISM?


Liberal League have separated from
the historic Liberal party, mainly on
the ground that they-in opposition to
the Radical attitude-are strong advo-
Gates of imperialism, that is, the steal
ing of other peoples territories, and
the slaughter of the Inhabitants, a
species of international brigandage.
To what extent this form of crime
has proceeded may be judged by the
fact that during the last thirty years
we have taken from the people who
own them 4,754,OOO square miles,
with supposed population Of 49,
100000, says Reynolds's Newspaper.
Sir Robert Giffen estimates the size
of the British Empire at about 49,
100000 square miles, with popula-
ton of 4OO,OOO,OOO, of whom only
about 5O,OO0,OOO are Of British race
and speech. Thus about one-third Of
the empire, and one-fourth Of it's pop
ulation have been acquired within the
last generation. That startling fact
will show what imperialism means
it's dangers and responsibilities. One
of the pleas of the imperialists is that
the BLESSINGS" of British institutions
will be extended to the absorbed
countries. OF the thirty nine separate
areas annexed to Great Britain since
1870 not one has been allowed re-
sponsible government, or even repre-
sentative institutions. Autocracies
have been established as absolute as
that of Russia. Now. i'm spite of this
enormous extension Of territory there
has been scarcely any addition of
trade as consequence. The only ma
terial increase has been from the old
colonies formed by our own surplus
population. These statements may he
verified by the remarkable series Of
tables given in Mr.. ]. a. Hobson's
new and important volume Imperial
ism," to which we recommend the stu
dent of modern politics as mastery
and impartial exposition of the true
meaning of one of the most dangerous
tendencies of our national life.
But, it is argued, the imperial policy
is means of providing for our SUI
plus population. What surplus popu-
1ation? The slums with their millions
of human microbes, do not emigrate.
1t is the strong and enterprising.
There is practically no emigration to
any British possession. except to the
old colonies. In 1884. the total emigra-
ton to all parts was 242,179. of which
only 1850 went to any place other
than the United States, Canada, Aus
tralia, New Zealand, Cape. Natal. In
1900, the total emigration figures fell
to 16S,S25, namely, United States 1922
797 mostly Irish, Canada 1s,443
largely North of Ireland and Scot
land), Australia and New Zealand 30
s15. "other places" 11,s4s. Imperial
ism then does not dispose of surplus
population. The gold and diamond
fields in the Transvaal and Orange
Colony are like all gold-bearing
areas, temporary exception. And
even there, according to the latest
report, half the population are in Il
state of restitution.
The only "surplus population
who profit by territorial expansion,
are the useless classes-army officers,
clergymen. barristers, shipping COM
panies receiving subsidies from the
taxes, civil servants. and officials Of
one kind and another. James Stuart
Mill more than half century ago
described the colonies as being a
vast system of outdoor relief for the
upper classes; and this is true to-
dav.
A notion ut the root of Imperialism
is that the English are born govern
ors that their system Of government
is better than that Of any other nation.
That this is manifestly untrue is
shown by the facts that we lost our
Colonies in America and have never
been able to pacify Ireland; that
half our population are forbidden the
franchise, and that half our Parlia-
ment governs by right Of birth; that
the land is monopoly; that our
educational system is the worst in the
world: that we have more paupers
proportionately to other races; that
our State religion is manufactured by
Parliament; that half our population
live in slums; that our system of
Municipal Government is far behind
the times. Indeed, in many respects
Great Britain is the worst governed
country in the world: and, from the
hard. unsympathetic, and unimagin-
alive intellect of its governing classes.
the least fitted to undertake the rul-
ing of others. The moral prestige
which we have lost SO universally by
the infamous war in South Africa
one of the cruellest and most mex
cusable wars ever waged by any
people, and which the conscience Of
all nations, except Turkey, has unan.
condemned-will take many