FUTURE OP THE ENGLISHSPEAKING PEOPLE.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 361, 9 April 1912, Page 7

FUTURE OP THE ENGLISHSPEAKING PEOPLE.

[By Rev. James Milne, M.A.] _ The English-speaking people are found m many land! 1 ; "their habitations are spread over the world. They have autho]*Ky m the north, south, east, and west, lhis is written m no boastful spirit, for it is well known that they hold this authority only amongst and not over other communities and nations The writer is also fully persuaded that any prerogative which internationally may pertain to this people through virtue of the rich prospect of immense undeveloped territories, the phenomenal growth of their trade and industries, the wealth of their sea-borne commerce, v"d only remain with them so long as the rights and privileges, the liberties they so deeply prize themselves, are lib;wise by them Tespected m and conceded to others.

The most interesting question as to the future of this people cannot be answered by consideration of their physical resources or numbers merely. It is not a question for the politician, for, however able, it goes absolutely beyond his orovince. It is being increasingly realised 'that there are forces at *work to-day affecting the development and growth of our civilisation, which are best described as "world forces." Communities, nations, peoples are most alive who are most apprised of and m touch with these same forces. It may be said that the world is ruled by sentiment ; but it is nearer the truth to maintain that it is governed m ite development by principles. Naturally, the past is examined to decide such a question as this. History is appealed to, and not m vain. The Eng-lish-speaking people have not been the only populous and Imperial race. To a limited extent, yet not the less truly, the As Syrians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans were the same m their day. Let it be conceded that it was the sentiment of patriotism, crudely expressed m terms of their day, through love of conquest, which gave to these ancient people their dominion or sway of power ; yet it must be acknowledged that the length, the continuance, as, indeed, the rising and falling of their respective kingdoms, were determined through the principle of righteousness. Sentiment may set up, as it may equally well pull down, authority; but it is through principle that authority abides, continues, reigns. This is important, and to be borne m mind when the question of the future of the English-speaking people ia considered. Happily, today the bonds wherewith tho various parts of the English-speaking world ai*6 bound together are stronger tlian ever they have been. The growing friendship between America and Great Britain cannot but be of the happiest augury for the peace of the world and for the progress of civilisation generally. It is something deep, too real and great to be affected by mere political or tariff relationships. Considering how many nationalities are- represented among English-speaking Americans, the bond of common speech may be regarded as merely sentimental; but that great nation of the West suffers naught tlirough its cosmopolitanism, m view of what may reasorably be regarded as the ultimate relationship of the white races. It is the fact that America and Britain hot merely speak -the same tongue, but are animated by the same desire for the progress and upholding of civilisation m the world that binds them' together m a" friendship not likely to be broken.

So of Britain and Jier great oversea dependencies it may with a like confidence be stated, that the bonds of Empire are something more than sentimental. It is- true that English is not universally spoken throughout the Empire—that itsspeople are of several races and of different tonguesbut again the advantage of this is seen m view of what the ultimate of this confederacy of States comprising the British Empire may reasonably be expected to be. This at least seems certain : that the destiny of America and the British Empire is the 6ame. Both, as has been indicated, are animated by the same ideals; both have the same questions to solve and difficulties to surmount m fulfilment of them. Probably, of these difficulties, the one which looms largest at present is as to the relationship which should exist between the white and colored races. That this cannot be expressed m any stereotpyed way — that this relationship cannot be formulated as fixed for all time — is very evident, simply because the matter concerns men, races, life itself, and so must admit of development. So the tests and restrictions m operation at various English-speaking ports, to control the immigration of colored people, are right m their way, as emphasising the principle, not of rigid exclusion, but of a very slow and gradual intermingling of the white and colored races. When the difference m habits, customs, ideals, and religion between white and colored people is considered, it is seen how ve^y important it is that the intermingling process should be of' the very slowest nature. Yet it is noteworthy that the colored races which do not perish before the white civilisation survive through a more or less pronounced adaptation of themselves to it. This is however stringently their immigration into white countries must be safeguarded through rigorous tests, it must not be absolutely debarred. For the great white race to take up an attitude of rigid exclusiveness from their colored brethren of humanity should be to miss" the day of their visitation, and to mistake their destiny.

Clearly the duty, as alike the privilege, ot" the English-speaking portion of the white race is, • with discretion yet courage, to pioneer the way m formulating yet ever modifying the relationship which should subsist between the white and colored peoples. That many colored men claim citizenship in> the British Empire but fits it the better, through provision, of opportunity within ite own gates, for this great but difficult civilising work, which is thus seen as its destiny. The same, if to a less extent, is true of America. .The work is great; and although pioneered by the Eng-lish-speaking people is not to 'be wholfy executed, nor is its responsibility to be borne, by them alone, but by the whole white race, to which, through Virtue of its common color, civilisation, and enlightenment, the responsibility pertains. Circumstances of dominion, sovereignty, and territory have, placed .America and Britain m the van for a work the successful performance of which must m evergrowing measure depend on all the white nations. When the time ripens for the closer co-operation of these it will not be found that the fact that America has drawn her citizens from every white community will stand m the* way of so desirable a consummation. Meantime, every friendly advance between the two great English-speaking nations is to be encouraged and given hearty welcome, as a strangthening of that vanguard force whose special and pioneering prerogative pertains lo the Eir-dish-speaking people.