MR GLADSTONE ON THE COLONIES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1837, 5 January 1889, Page 3

MR GLADSTONE ON THE COLONIES.

Mr Gladstone’s most recent utterance on the matter is culled from an article on “ The Future of the Eng-lish-Speaking Eaces ” in an American paper. Mr Gladstone considers the whole question is one of population, and argues upon this point from the past to the present and from the present to the future, saying that a century ago those who spoke the \English language were less than 1&OOO.OOQ, and that within 100 years had multiplied sevenfold. He is perfectly convinced in his own mind that about 1980 the whole Englishspeaking people will, at the present rate of increase, number 1,000,000,000. This estimate, if accurate, will leave at the end of next century speakers of English far in excess of any other nationality. Having satisfied himself thus, Mr, Gladstone at ,once goes on to consider some minor matters connected with the question of population. He first of all says that the very increase of numbers will draw the English' in speech and in instincts together ; or, to put it in his own words, “ will augment their stock of common interests and feelings; and will render them as to each collective ego , each territory or country, less egotistical, and will involve and consolidate throughout the mass a stronger sense of moral oneness.” Mr Gladstone touches on Imperial Federation, saying, in answer to the question, Will the Dependencies continue to own the supremacy of the British Grown? that he no reason whatever why the various parts of the Empire should not be as closely connected in the future as they are at present, “I hope they may; I know of no reason _ why they should not; why the elastic relations which now happily subsist should not continue to find room and verge enough for including and _ adjusting Vguch novelties as may arise,” Mr 'Gladstone further thinks that even if the siken thread which binds the Mother Country and her colonies so closely together is broken, even if the political ties are sundered, still the great English-speaking people will practically remain one nation undivided, by community of language, the essential and governing unity of vaces, together with the conscious instincts of kindred prospects and a common inheritance. The ex-Premier thoroughly believes in the great future before a combined English race; but he impresses _ upon his readers that this future is entirely dependent, not so much on intellectual and material progress, but upon a social or moral, as it were, girding of the loins. Mr Gladstone’s words in reference to this are:—“ln short, if the great future prophesied is to be a truthful forecast, we must each, as an individual and Imperial unit, alike reverence the great traditions of mankind. We must even renew the severity of those traditions, and live a braced and watchful not a remiss and sluggish—life, every man doing his duty day by day in common zeal for the nation’s good.”