MISCELLANEOUS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4455, 7 November 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

MISCELLANEOUS.

JOHN BRIGHT AND ENGLISHSPEAKING PEOPLE. John Bright in a recent speech said that there wero 100,000,000 people who spoke English, and intimated that at the closo of the presont century tho English speaking people of tho United States would amount to 100,000,000. The present population of that country ranges between 55,000,000, and 60,000,000. Thero is hardly a doubt but tho latter figures will bo exceeded when the Federal census of 1890 i.s taken. Tho present ratio of increase does not indicate that 100,000,000 will bo reached in tho year 1900. Yet ten years later tho population of the country may not bo far below that estimate. At that date there will be nearly an eiiual number of English-speaking peoplo outride of the United States. Great Britain the dominion of Canada, South Afnea, and the Australian Colonies v'U furnish this population. There will then, say at the expiration of twenty-flvo years, bo about two hundred millions of English-speaking population on the frlobo. But let us look al John Blight's data ! ■ | At this moment England, Canada, Australia and tho Cape of Good llopo show a population of about 45,000,000 persons, At this very time, as you are aware, tho new nation of which I speak—and which started as a nation 100 years ago-numbors now not far short of (50,000,000 and is'rapidly increasing. I do not know but the at ond of tho century, or soon after, it may amount to 100,000,000 of what I call tho English - speaking people—that is the United Kingdom, its other connected colonies, and tho ancient Colonies of the British

Crown which aro now the United States of North America; and these, in my opinion it may bo presumption, it may be egotism— but I hold the opinion that they are tho foromost in all the liberties which are the most valued by the most intelligent people living in civilized countries. But although in population—l am spouking to American gentlemen—you have overpassed ; us so much that in time to como it is possible we may have to ask the protection of your vast country n gainst the enomies which may assault us; yet lam not disposed at any rate to deny the leadership which. I think'we have. In our political freedom I think, wo aro about as free us' you are. At the same time, I must say there is another description of freedom in which I think that we have surpassed yourselves. Many gentlemen hero will know to what I rofer. I behove the time will come—l do not oxpect to livo to see it myself, although I may soo some advances toward it—but I beliovo my children and grand-children will as certainly see it as anything beforo tho oyo now. I believe tho timo will como when the American Nation, having by vast sacrifices of blood and treasmo accomplished the freedom of the men will be as free as tho bodies of tho men.