"WE ARE ALL IMPERIALISTS."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 288, 4 December 1900, Page 3

"WE ARE ALL IMPERIALISTS."

GREAT SPEECH BY MR CHAMBER-

LAIN,

• The speech which Mr Chamberlain made at he Fishmongers' Hall on Wednesday evening was, as many present remarked, the one he should have delivered at the Hopetoun banquet. Seldom has the Colonial Secretary been heard to greater advantage. His subject was the growth of Imperialism, "the ties which bind," etc. He referred first to the bad old days when we looked upon the colonies as encumbrances, in which, indeed—to use My expression of a distinguished statesman, with whom (said the Rifcfct Hon. gentleman) I do not agree—then, indeed, we flouted the colonies, and we regarded them as burdens and -a»cn iniDrances. We expected their separation; we almost desired it." Well, that period lasted down almost to the present day. It is only within the last few years that we have redeemed our character as a great Imperial nation —(hear, hear) — it is only within the last few years that we have got free from that pusillanimous repudiation of national and Imperial obligation.' (Cheers.) Now a great change has come- over our people. I think myself that it came over the people before it came over our rulers —(cheers) —and now it has come over both. We are all Imperialists—(hear, hear)—and we have at last abandoned the craven fear of being great, which was the disgrace — I can call it no less—of a previous age. (Cheers.) Now we find that our people—the democracy — tmderstand the nature and the extent of the possibilities of this great Empire of ours. Think of it, gentlemen—an Empire such as the world has never seen. Think of its area, covering a great portion of the globe Think of its population, embracing four hundred millions of people of almost every race under the sun. Think of the diversity of its products. There is nothing that is necessary or useful or grateful to man that is not produced under the Union Jack. (Cheers.) Think also, gentlemen,_ of the responsibilities and the obliga,tions which the possession of such an Empire entails. We have to bring all tliese dependent races —to all our kinsmen. abroad we have already brought—freedom and justice and civilisation and peace. (Cheers.) And we recognise now that all these varied peoples have become one family. We recognise that their good is ours, and that our strength is theirs. (Cheers.) And we see that we are bound to them by interests, as they are bound to us. What should we be without our Empire—two small islands, with an overcrowded population, in the northern sea? What would they be without us—fractions at present—nations indeed—but without the fulness of national life, without the cohesion that enables them to look the world in the face. (Hear, hear.) We are bound together also by something which, in international and national affairs, is, perhaps, even {Stronger than material interests —by Sentiment, by common ideals and common aspirations. Anld therefore it is that from them, from our Innsfolk, from our fellow subjects, we crave their affection, we invite their

sympathy, we delight in their support. (Cheers.) After a glowing tribute to Ihc C.1.V., Mr Chamberlain went on: — And then, gentlemen, what- is there else—the greatest feature of all in this eventful modern history? Look at the action of the colonies, the selfgoverning colonies, in the period of trouble and trial which came upon tbe ' Motherland. What sympathy they ' have shown! How practically they ' have shown it! How universal has , bf>en the sentiment! I speak of the [ self-governing. Colonies because, un- . der the circumstances, it was their , aid only that we could accept. For political reasons we were unable to accept the offers that crowded upon us from every dependency of the Queen, and' above all from the feudatory rrinces who own her beneficent suzerainty in our great dependency of India. But, confining myself to the self-governing Colonies, what have they done for us? At the first threat of war they hastened spontaneously— it was not our suggestion—it was their own good thought—(hear, bear) —they hastened spontaneously to offer their aid, and they have given jus of their best and their bravest. (Cheers.) They have fought, aud some of them have died to maintain | the honour of the ilag and the interests of the common Empire. (Hear, hear.) They have done something more. They have given us their moral support—the moral support of great, free, independent nations, proud of their own liberty, and able to take an impartial and judicial view of the merits of the struggle in which we were engaged. I do not think that anything could have been more grateful to the people of this country, more useful in regard to our position with other nations than the sight of the colonies of Great Britain—the sons of Great Britain —hastening freely to give their support to the Motherland in a cause which they themselves have considered and believed to be just. (Hear, hear.) In view of all this, is it too much to say that in this last twelve months the Empire has been born anew? The Empire now is undoubtedly not the Empire of England alone, but the Empire almost of the world —of all our possessions—of all our dependencies. It must be borne in mind in future that we recognise in them absolute equality of right ancl possession in all that we claim in regard to ourselves. I believe that this new feeling is compensation for the war. In our trial our hands were stayed by our Colonies as the hands of Moses were stayed by Aaron and Hur, till victory waited on the Army. Shall we ever forget it? Will anyone ever dare to say again that the Colonies are an encumbrance to the Empire which they have done so much to maintain and support? (Cheers.)