THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING RACE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1291, 26 November 1896, Page 10

THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING RACE.

A PROPHECY BY SIR WALTER BESANT.

In the North A merican Review for August, Sir Walter Besant discourses upon the future of the English-speaking race, amplifying and enlarging on much of what he said in his address at Browning Bail on July 4th : *•' In a hundred years the Englishspeaking race ha 3 leaped up from twenty millions to a hundred and twenty millions, and has extended its possessions by something like a fifth part of the habitable globe. It would be impossible to find any other example in history of an increase so rapid, and an extension of territory so vast. If in fifty years' time the United States will have a hundred millions instead of sixty, Austr.lia will have twenty millions instead of four, South Africa ten millions instead of two 4 and so on. Let us remember that the continent oi Australia will be able support a population of two hundred millions, and that South Africa will support as many as are likely to demand its hospitality for a hundred years to come." Sir Walter thinks that the disruption of the race is inevitable : 41 If the English Government remains what it is, and the English colonies become more and more obstinately Republican, there will most certainly exist a permanentcleavaga between them,growing every year wider and wider. That is true, and it is a danger which can only be met in one way, which I will, presently explain.

44 Apart from the form of government, what line of change awaits our race in the immediate future ? The colonies will drop off one after the other, and become independent. Australia, which could not, a 3 yet, defend herself against Japan, must,

dent. We shall.then—say, .in fifty years ---see six great English-speaking nations ; every one will be inure populous than France at the present day ; filled with penple who have absorbed all foreign adhiixtures ; governed by the same laws ; inheriting all the Anglo-Saxon qualities, virtues and weaknesses;" Among these s'x nations, Sir Walter thinks there will exist only one bond of union, viz., a Board of Arbitration, at which they will all be represented : *' The six nations will be separate, yet united ; each will be free to work out its own developments in its own way ; it will be impossible for them to quarrel ; they will understand that free trade between themselves will be the best in their own interests \ their Press will be courteous, each to each \ they will be rivals only in art, science and literature. Above all, they will form a firm alliance, offensive and defensive, with such a navy that all the world united in arms would be powerless against them. And, as an example for all the world to see, there will be the great federation of our race, an immense federation, free, law-abiding, peaceful, yet ready to tight ; tenacious of eld customs ; dwelling continually with the same idea 3 ; keeping, as their ancestors from Friesland did before them, each family as the unit; every home the centre of the earth ; every township of a dozon men the centre of the government."