BRITISH IMPERIALISM.
Let me now consider the wonderful development of what I have called
Monarchical Democratic or free Imperialism. It has so far been
exclusively of British growth. It is the typical form of Imperialism
which has been honoured with the most violent, the most unjust,
denunciations of our "Nationalists".
How did it deserve such an hysterical reprobation? Such is the question
to which I shall now endeavour to give a decisive negative answer.
I have previously once said that British Imperialism, like American
Imperialism, has Political Liberty as its foundation stone. I think this
can easily be proven.
Any close observer of political events, will agree with me, I am
confident, that Imperialism is also "OFFENSIVE" and "DEFENSIVE" in its
expansion. The meaning of these two terms is clear.
For the last fifty years, "OFFENSIVE" IMPERIALISM has been the GERMAN
DESPOTIC IMPERIALISM. The present war--its criminal work--is the
convincing evidence in support of the charge.
I have, I believe, proved to the satisfaction of every fair minded man,
that during the same last fifty years England's constant efforts have
been to maintain peace. Consequently, I am authorized to draw the
conclusion that British Imperialism was not intended to be, and has not
been "OFFENSIVE".
The Imperialist effort OFFENSIVELY, AGGRESSIVELY and VIOLENTLY tending
to the continuous and unmeasured expansion of a Sovereign Power, with
the objective of universal domination by all possible means, however
unjust, immoral and savage they may be, is a most guilty effort
deserving the severest condemnation. Such is the German autocratic
Imperialism.
On the contrary, the DEFENSIVE Imperialist effort, having for its only
object the protection of an Empire, the maintenance of her standing in
the society of nations, and of peace so essential to the general
prosperity of the world, is meritorious, beneficient and laudable. Such
has been the British Monarchical democratic Imperialism.
It is from this elevated standpoint that I will consider the
negotiations which, for the last few years, have taken place between the
Metropolis and her autonomous Colonies, respecting Imperial defence.
While admitting the right of all the free citizens of Canada to
appreciate them, and entertaining a real respect for the sincerity of
opinions which I cannot conscientiously share, I cannot help considering
that many amongst us have fallen into a serious error in judging the
nature of these negotiations.
Is it truly, as has been asserted, in obedience to a powerful wave of
"OFFENSIVE IMPERIALISM" that Great Britain has of late convened
representatives of her free Colonies to meet, in London, to confer about
the best means to adopt for the general security of the whole British
Empire?
Is it, as also asserted, with the unworthy design to entrap the Colonies
that their self-appointed delegates have been called in secret conclaves
where the political leaders of England would, by unfair and foul means,
prevail upon them to agree to unjust sacrifices on the part of the
peoples they represented?
I am absolutely unable to share such erroneous views. I must admit with
all candor that I have not yet been brought to the conclusion that
British Statesmen are all contaminated with "Machiavellism". A free
country like the United Kingdom is not a land where such deplorable
principles are likely to blossom.
What are then the extraordinary events which have recently taken place
to justify the assertion of the "Nationalist" leader that, in the course
of the last few years, a complete REVOLUTION has been wrought in the
relations of the autonomous Colonies with their Metropolis? Of such a
Revolution, cunningly promoted to bring the colonies against their will
to participate in the Imperial wars--_les guerres de l'empire_--I do not
perceive the smallest shadow of traces.
As everybody else, living with their eyes not closed to the light of
day, I clearly saw, principally during the last twenty years, that
important developments were taking place under the sun; that European
equilibrium upon the maintenance of which universal peace so much
depended, was rapidly breaking asunder; that the German Empire was more
and more unmasking her guilty ambition to dominate an enslaved universe;
that, to reach that goal, she was organizing an army formidable by its
millions of warriors, their superior training, their ironed discipline
and their unrivalled armament. I knew that the sadly famous Kaiser
Wilhelm II. was determined, at all cost, to increase the power of his
Empire by the addition of a military fleet in such proportions as to be
able, in a successful naval battle, to conquer the supremacy of the
seas.
Under such circumstances, was it to be supposed that the Statesmen
responsible for the government of Great Britain would be so careless and
so blind as not to see the dark spots crowding on the horizon!
The problem of Imperial defence was then once more raised, not by a mere
caprice of vain glory on the part of England, but by the inevitable
outcome of the initiative of would-be opponents, if not actually
declared enemies. The overseas colonies being more and more likely to be
attacked, in a general conflict, was it surprising that the British
Government was induced to confer with them for their common defence
under the new conditions which were surely not of their own
metropolitan or colonial creation.
All the representatives of Great Britain, of Canada, Australia, South
Africa, New Zealand, at the London conferences, took part in those
solemn deliberations with the full sense of their responsibility. None
of them was so mistaken as to consider the question, of paramount
importance, of the DEFENSIVE organization of the Empire, as futile,
merely to be used by the astuteness of some and the guilty complicity of
others, joining together to sacrifice the future of their common
country. The odious imputation, the shameless charge, were equally
unjust and calumnious for the British ministers and the colonial public
men who, in their turn, went to London to deliberate on subjects so
vitally interesting all the component parts of the Empire.