THE DESTINY OF ENGLAND'S COLONIES.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 4994, 14 January 1885, Page 2

THE DESTINY OF ENGLAND'S COLONIES.

Sir Charles Dilke, when speaking of the value of British colonies, has not always expressed himself in terms so calculated to elicit a grateful response at the Antipodes as those which he employed in a great speech recently delivered at Man* Chester. .Referring to the desire of Franco and Germany for colonial extension, he observed :—" There is room enough for us all in the world, and room to spare. (Hear, hear.) 'France, which'""once divided the New World with Spain, and lost her share to vi, is trying, probably at more cost than they are worth to her, to regain colonies in the place of those which she has lost. Of German colonies also we have nothing to fear. We can find no fault with Germany for the desire to have colonies if she chooses. Trading settlementi, however, on the heated shores of Africa, or on the tropical islands of the Pacific, can never rital daughter countries, such as the United States j colonies, such as the Dominion of Canada, such as New Zealand, such as the six great sisters of Australia and its Tas* manian island. The Empire of England has peculiarities which cannot be imitated or repeated, and the English blood and tongue must, under God's blessing, ever remain dominant throughout the world. (Cheers.) Her situation, and the character of her people, make her the strongest power of the world, destined, indeed, it may be, to be one day surpassed in power, but surpassed in that case, by her own children, speaking her tongue, (Cheers.) Franchise reform itself cannot but strengthen our Empire, though in the meantime we shall not forget the sentries that guard us from attack."