EARL RUSSELL ON COLONIAL POLICY.
(From the London Colonies, February 8.) Earl Russell lias just given to the world his “ Recollections and Suggestions ” respecting the public affairs of this country between the years ISI3 and 1873. Those wliose memories can span that period are but few, and their ranks are rapidly diminishing. When, therefore, one of them gives the recollections of his life, he cannot fail to create considerable attention and interest, especially if he be a man who, like this veteran statesman, has taken an active and leading part in governing his fellowcountrymen. Since Lord Palmerston and the late Earl of Derby have passed away, Earl Russell has been left, the last of the past generation of statesmen who have attained to the Premiership of England—au office he twice held.
The noble lord begins by telling us of his first election to Parliament for Tavistock in July, 1813, “just a month before I became of age.” He then describes, and it is very interesting to read of, his previous visits to the army of Wellington in the Peninsula. The volume then goes on, leading us down through various changes from what is now quite the hjstory of the post to events which immediately concern us. In the midst of the rapid, new-world life in which we are living, and remembering the stupendous political questions and conflicts which have since arisen, it is somewhat difficult to realise the fact that there are men amongst us who can remember the time when the first Napoleon was in the zenith of his career.
The utterances of any eminent man who thus speaks are entitled to the most respectful attention, however one may be disposed to differ with him. Earl Russell touches upon many points about which his readers will entertain various opinions. Such a record of such times tempts any one who takes it up to follow the course of the narrative; but we have another purpose in referring to the book. Amidst the numerous and weighty topics which Lord Russell had to occupy him during his long and eventful public life, it is gratifying to find that his mind was not entirely absorbed with the concerns of the United Kingdom, and with Foreign affairs, but that he seems to have given considerable thought to the future of that Colonial Empire, which was so very insignificant, and a considerable portion of which had no existence whatever, when he commenced his public life. He tells us in his remarks on the subject, which wo give in extenso in another column, that on becoming Secretary for the Colonies in 1839, “I soon became interested in the colonial affairs.” Many of the present leading statesmen of England of both parties have held the same office, aud we hope most of them have experienced a similar feeling ; and that some of them may yet give us more decided indications of the fact than they have yet seen fit to display. We cannot understand how any statesman who has ever presided over the department which has to deal with so many rising communities all over the globe, can fail to realise the importance of the position, or to form high, conceptions respecting the future relations of these communities to the mother country and to each other. In fact, the Colonial; Office ought to he one of the most interesting and attractive positions for a Cabinet Minister. We should like to hear Mr. Gladstone, or any other statesman who may retire from a leading part in polities, make as satisfactory a statement on colonial relations as that of Earl Russell. The reply with which Lord John Russell, as he then was, sent away the gentleman attached to the Erench Government, who came to inquire how much of Australia Great Britain claimed, should ever he recorded iu the history of the Island Continent. The two short words “ the whole” finally stamped its nationality and future prospects. We fear that some of the noble Earl's successors in the Colonial Office would not have been so emphatic.
There are only two observations of Lord Russell to which we must take exception—the one where he says—we cannot help, thinkinn- inadvertently—that, “ It may be a matter of°doubt whether or no to build up a Colonial Empire.” On second thoughts wo believe the author would be disposed to add, that in the case of England the wisdom of forming such an Empire must be most emphatically proclaimed. The other objection we make is to the suggestion of the possibility that any of our dependencies might wish to separate from us. Wo should treat such a contingency as so completely out of the question as never to allude to it. With these exceptions nothing can he more admirable than the vigorous tone in which the veteran statesman speaks of maintaining and cementing the unity of the Empire. “In my eyes,” he says, “it would be a sad spectacle for gods and men to -weep at, to site this brilliant Empire, the guiding star of freedom, broken up.” But not only does he see the importance of unity, and hold the principle as a great and valuable sentiment, ho feels , that, it will be necessary to give it practical effect by means of an Imperial organisation. He suggests that “ a Congress or Assembly, representing Groat Britain and her dependencies, could be convoked from time to time, to sit for some months in the autumn.” Such a declaration iu favor of federation is important evidence of the rapid growth of the idea. If Earl Russell has only recently adopted it, it shows that a policy which may probably he widely, if not universally, adopted by a rising generation, has such strong recommendations as to secure adherents oven among a generation which is passing away, and not likely to embrace a policy just mooted, and involving such great interests and requiring so much consideration. On the other hand, should Earl Russell have
for some time entertained the idea he must have been about the first to have conceived it; and the fact evidences a large amount of foresight and thoughtfulness upon a question which has only recently come within the view of those who are most vigilant in watching the development of the relations between England and her rapidly growing colonial dominions. At a time when the question is creating more than ordinary attention it is important to weigh the sentiments of one who, removed from the active struggles of political life in which he was so much involved, is in a position to give us such a retrospective of the past and to indicate how our course should be shaped for the future.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4381, 5 April 1875, Page 3
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1,116EARL RUSSELL ON COLONIAL POLICY. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4381, 5 April 1875, Page 3
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