• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

THE BRITISH EMPIRE BY SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL, M.P. CASSELL & COMPANY, LIMITED: LONDON, PARIS, NEW YORK &> MELBOURNE. [ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] 589651 JV CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. PAGE Our Position compared to other Nations Need to take Stock of the Empire Baron Hubner Drawbacks of Parliamentary System Deficiency of Farmer- Colonists Too great Haste to be Rich Immense Variety of Races Difficulties in Mixed Colonies Localisation of Free Government Possibility of Federation ... ... ... ... ... ... ... i CHAPTER It. FREE SELF-GOVERNING COLONIES. How far they are Part of the Empire The Aborigines of these Colonies Arguments for Federation Advantages to Colonies of Present Position Drawbacks of Position to Us Diplomatic Difficulties Difficulties in the way of Federation Imposs- ibility of Customs Union or Common Revenue Arguments for Letting Alone so much as is Well What is Really Necessary Comparison of Great Britain with the Free Colonies Colonial Federations inter se Pressing Need of a United Diplomacy How to Attain Immigration to Free Colonies Chinese, Pacific Islanders, and Indians White Immigration State-directed Colonisation Free Trade in Population... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 CHAPTER III. POSSESSIONS AND SETTLEMENTS NOT SELF-GOVERNING. Situation compared to Free Colonies Our Fitness for Enterprise in a Superior Capacity But Difficulty of Controlling Adven- turers Our Resources, and the Danger of taking too much- Recent Extensions ... ... ... ... ... ... 36 vi CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. INDIA. PAGE Character of the People And of our Rule Our Military Forces of Armies Native Princes Affghanistan Burmah ; Political and Military Position there Employment of Native Soldiers Abroad Advantages of India to Us Advantages to the Natives Education and its Effects The so-called Tribute Our Rule a Paternal Despotism Recent Demands for more Free Institutions The Free Press and Free Speech The Educated Natives Local Government Government of Native States The Filling of Civil Offices Effect of Use of English on those who have not that Language Claims of Natives to Higher Offices The Civil Service The Indian Mahom- medans Their Position Are they a Political Danger ? The Question of European Settlement in India The Government of India and Parliament Need of a Buffer ... ... ... 43 CHAPTER V. CROWN COLONIES. What Crown Colonies are Unsatisfactory Position Majority of Coloured Races Former Self-Government of Whites Re- collections of Slavery Importation of Labour Forms of Government Colonial Officials Difficulty of Protecting Natives Defiance of Free-Trade Principles Oligarchy in Natal Attempts to Establish a General Franchise Com- parison with Southern States in America And with Cape Colony Jamaica Mauritius British Guiana Paternal Administrations . ,. 101 CHAPTER VI. TERRITORIAL COMPANIES. The North Borneo Company The National African Company Questions of Policy Involved ... ... .. ... "... 114 \ CONTENTS. vii CHAPTER VII. PROTECTORATES. PAGE Variety of Forms Protectorates in Africa In the Malay Peninsula In Oceania New Guinea Missionary Influences Action of Traders and Adventurers Trade in Arms Trade in Strong Drinks 117 CHAPTER VIII. RECAPITULATION OF CROWN COLONIES AND PROTECTORATES. Size and Resources' of these Territories Cost to Britain Ceylon, Straits Settlements, and Mauritius West Indian Colonies South African Colonies and Protectorates The Basutos The Zulus Relations with Boer Republics Bechuanalaind Temptations to Further Advance West African Settlements Borneo and New Guinea Fiji Hong-Kong and Port Hamilton Mediterranean Possessions Aden, Perim, and Socotra Summary of these Possessions ... ... ... 129 CHAPTER IX. IMMIGRATION TO TROPICAL TERRITORIES. Under-Population and Over-Population Importation of Labour from Africa Immigration from India Its Possibilities, Uses, and Abuses Conditions Necessary to its Success Chinese Immigration The Polynesian Labour-Traffic Naval Re- prisals 150 CHAPTER X. EXTENSION OR RETROGRESSION. Limit of Room for Extension Division of Ground with Germans and French Question of turning over Native Races to Greater Colonies Future of New Guinea And of Pacific Islands South Africa : a Compact South- Eastern Dominion there Questions Involved in the Rule of Territories not Self- Governing ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 161 viii CONTENTS. CHAPTER XI. AFRICA. PAGE Size and Character of African Continent Our Position in South Africa and elsewhere Suakim Possessions of Foreign Powers Character of the Interior and its Condition Character of the People Indian Empire forbids African Empire Need of a Limit to our Possessions there The Congo Treaty and State Possible German, French, and Italian Extensions Egypt, and our Position there ... ... ... ... ... 169 CHAPTER XII. CONCLUSION. Our Empire and our Duties The Roads to India The Politics of the Mediterranean Of the Suez Canal Of Egypt And of Western Asia Summary of the whole Empire ... ... 180 THE BRITISH EMPIRE. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. I THINK there is no people whose lot one feels more inclined to envy than the Swiss. It is not only that they are comfortable and content in their own democratic way, but with no great wealth, moderate taxation, and a small revenue, more seems to be done for the people than else- where. In respect of roads and railways, they are behind none nor in institutions. In ; hospitals and other public an efficient system of public education they are far ahead of us, and in most modern improvements postal arrange- ments, telegraphs, and telephones, and all the rest of it they seem (for popular use at any rate) to be ahead of almost any other people certainly very far indeed ahead of us. Compulsory military service, no doubt, they have, and handsome barracks are conspicuous ; but these are mere militia depots. The required periodical service is rendered in the immediate neighbourhood of their own villages, and, combined with constant popular rifle practice, suffices to make them very efficient soldiers for purely defensive pur- poses a form of militarism which I believe to be by no means disadvantageous. It does not appear to detract from their industrial efficiency. Altogether, they seem happy in their own homes, and, when they are too crowded there, 2 THE BRITISH EMPIRE. their character and their education make them welcome as earners and emigrants abroad. Yet I would not attribute this happy result too ex- clusively to their position as a well-regulated federation of small self-governing communities in secure mountains, and free from the cares of empire. Something of the same kind may be seen in New England, and some other of the older States of the American Union, where a good distri- bution of the soil and local self-government by and for the people are combined with a share and active part in one of the greatest States in the world. The constitutions of the United States and of the component parts are more fixed than ours they are, in a sense, much more conservative : their vast territory is all contiguous in one Continent, and their foreign anxieties are not great. In these respects they have a very advantageous position. We are not so fortunate. At home it is our boast that is elastic it is an that our constitution ; but elasticity gives rest it is and never settled. Abroad no ; always stretching, our Empire is scattered all over the earth with no con- stitution in particular to bind it together. And, in spite of our enormous wealth and great revenue, so much seems to be absorbed by debts, and naval and military armaments, and wars, and operations, and complications of all kinds, that we are almost niggardly in expenditure for the benefit of our own people at home compared to the Swiss, for instance; and while we spend vast sums on occasion of political excitement, we are timid in the extreme in regard to any comparatively small normal expenditure for Im- perial purposes, which requires an annual parliamentary vote. In truth, our Empire is attended with many cares and anxieties, alarms and troubles, and a heavy expenditure. Yet we cannot shake off these responsibilities if we would. Citizens of a great Empire we are and must be. But we INTRODUCTOR V. 3 are getting uneasy; we feel that things are not on an safe there is a to altogether footing ; disposition examine, and see if improved arrangements are not possible. It is towards that examination that I seek to make a humble contribution. As to qualification for such a task, I can only say that at various times I have seen something of Asia, Africa (North and South), America, and the countries of Eastern Europe that I have had a somewhat exceptionally wide experience of different parts of India, and that for the last dozen years as a Member of Parliament, with no other avocations, I have both paid special attention to debates and blue-books, and have, during the recess, travelled very much, and taken notes of things political. I have never visited Australasia, and had some desire to go there, but it so happens that we have just had, from two most excellent pens, the result of such a tour from Mr. Froude and Baron Hubner. The former may be suspected of some political proclivities, but the latter is certainly thoroughly so I well content to take a impartial ; am very vicariously tour, which brings out all that could be learned by a mere traveller much better than I could do it. Baron Hubner is certainly a wonderfully acute observer, and much that " follows has reference to a recent perusal of his Through the British Empire." Besides the very scattered position and miscellaneous character of the British dominions we labour under some special disadvantages for the management of a great Empire. First and chiefest is our parliamentary system. All free countries must be at a disadvantage in the manage- ment of dominions beyond the seas, but we are in some respects especially so. To a great extent this has always been felt. Our extreme party system, under which it is the everlasting function of the outs to find fault with everything that is done by the ins, drives our public men to study the 4 THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

Load more

  202

Copy Link