One hundred years ago
THE expansion of the Empire still con- tinues as an automatic process. Colonel Colville, with his Soudanese, has been "brilliantly successful" in his attack on Unyoro, has driven the hostile Chief Kabarega out of that Kingdom, and has reduced it to its old position as a depen- dency of Uganda. This gives the British the control of the whole vast and fertile territory between Lake Victoria and Lake Albert, seventy thousand square miles at least, the best position in East Africa. Colonel Colville has followed up the blow by despatching Major Owen to Wadelai, where the British flag has been hoisted, apparently without resis- tance. This annexation secures to us the command of the upper waters of the Nile, and if we please, an easy entrance to the southern part of the Soudan. The work appears to have been well done, and victory will confirm the loyalty of the Soudanese soldiers; but we should like greatly to know whether the Gov- ernment has a plan, or whether we are acquiring Kingdoms haphazard. We do not object to the expansion if we are to take up the work of governing East Africa as a duty to be performed; but we have no right to conquer and refuse to govern, and stable government must be based on adequate force.
The Spectator 12 May 1894
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