New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-28
BRITTgB COLONIAL EPoCHs.

Much space has been appropriately given in
the press of tgO countries 10 two incidents of
the last few days-the opening Of the James
town celebration and the meeting of the Brit
ish Imperial Conference. The historic interest
of their conjuncture has not been largely dwelt
upon. and yet It is in some respects the most
important feature OF the whole occasion. The
relationship between the two is direct and es-
sential. and is significant Of the whole story of
British colonization and empire. For James
town in 1907 marked the beginning OF the Brit
ish colonial empire, and the present imperial
conference marks a new epOch-the fnteful
third-in the history Of that empire; while mem-
cries closely associated with the vicinity ~
jamestown point an impressive lesson concern
ing the possible and desirable character Of that
new epoch.
We have already noted that before 1907 Eng
land was practically destitute OF colonies. while
France, Spain, Portugal and Holland had them
OF vast extent and promise, and that because Of
the circumstances which made jamestown pos
sible in little more than a century and a half
thereafter she became the most important colo
NAL power in the world. The first epoch of
British colonial history, then, extended from
/ 1907 to 1873. 1t was marked with enormous
growth and in the end with enormous loss.
II was characterized by policy OF exploitation
OF the colonies for English gain. Practically.
the colonies had no rights which the mother
country was bound 10 respect. Some Of the
colonies were penal settlements. All Of them
were governed by England and for England
| The British administration was not as brutal
and sanguinary as that of Spain. hut il was
equally disastrous, and the crowning disaster
came even sooner than that Of Spain. From
I l776 20 1888 the mother country learned ore Of
/ the most salutary lessons Of her whole career.
The second epoch began with the great moral
and political awakening caused by the Amer
/ lean Revolution. The ruling classes of England
! then realzed-what indeed many statesmen and
large part Of the people had all along felt
/ that BritOns under whatever skies must he
treated as BritOns still. How strongly that was
felt even during the Revolution is shown by the
fact that Britons were reluctant 10 fight
! against their American kinsmen that the King
WAS driven 90 seek mercenary levies abroad,
while little later i'm the Napoleonc wars the
whole British people was ready and eager TO
bear arms Unfortunately, the pendulum swung
too far The colonies were endowed with self
government. But they were too much cut off
/ from British sympathies. The industrial revO-
luton set In, and Golden proclaimed that Cos
pei Of cheapness which for a time captvated
the mind OF the nation of shopkeepers." The
colonies were merely tolerated. with an expec-
tatiOn and a hope that they would soOn-the
+ sooner the better-cut loose from the home con-
nectlOn. Even so ardent an imperialst Dis
raeli declared, These wretched colonies Will
all be independent, too, in few years, and are
a milestone round our necks," while Mr.. Morley
az a later date predicted that IL ever England
| became involved In a serious war her colonies
would refuse her sympathy, money and men.
The third epoch was ushered In by Mr.. Cham
berlain Eve years ago, when his earlier colo
NAL conference" surviving the ridicule which
political adversaries poured upon II, became ar
Imperial conference" denOting not that Great
Britain was the pOssessOr OF numerous colonies
but that a number OF self-gOvernlng communi
. ties and commonwealth in various parts of the
world were strongly united In an empire. Tha
principle, 20 which that great Minister devoted
= so much OF his career. is to-day powerfully con
= iirmed In this present imperial conference; il
Z which, too, Is seen most instructive demon
2 straton OF that continuity OF policy which S,
5 largely contributes TO the strength OF Grea
] Britain. For while In Mr.. Chamberlaln's da-
? the opposition freely and causticaliy critclses
g his colonial policy and his 'lmperlanstlc fads'
now that same opposition, being the govern