COLONIZATION.
IT seems as if circumstances would force upon our statesmen some great measure of colonization. Free Trade has struck at the foundation of the antiquated "Colonial system," and made it necessary to devise other modes than commercial restriction for keeping up the connexion between mother-country and colonies; the ultra-pauperized districts in Ireland—those in which the number of the paupers exceed the number of pounds sterling in the ren- tal—exhibit their redundant population, as if to remind practical statesmen that there are vast regions of colonial land lying waste; the Committee of the Peers bequeath to the recess a Report on Emigration,* cautious and hesitating in tone, but followed by evi- dence the most conclusive as to the practicability and immense advantages of emigration ; the Colonies show an awakening de- sire for a systematic introduction of settling labourers ; and in Ireland again a general eagerness to colonize has been roused. If statesmen know the interest of the country and their own duty, a time is approaching which will shame even the superficial economists who talk of " abandoning the Colonies " as " useless incurnbrances." It is true that this country has parted with large tracts of waste lands to the local legislatures, or locked them up by recognizing absurd litigious claims; but the interest of the parent state in the waste lands of her colonies does not cease with their alienation—does not cease until those waste lands are covered with people. Until that be done, the parent state has a claim on those lands ; they do not belong exclusively or chiefly to the colonists. This is a truth which is too often overlooked— its opposite, indeed, being taken for granted ; but it lies at the bottom of a right understanding as to the mutual relation between parent state and colony ; and the evidence in Lord Monteagle's blue book will be found to throw new and valuable light upon it.
Let us go back to the time when the lands are unsettled. A highly-civilized and densely-peopled state possesses extensive waste lands in the colonies. Those lands derive their value in part from their natural qualities and geographical features, but still more from the acquired resources of the parent country. To ascertain that fact, compare the actual state of the territories set- tled by England, France, and Spain—compare the settled colonies of the three countries, and say whether the natural capacity of the land has determined the wealth and progress of the settlement so much as the resources of the parent country have done. In a state possessing those waste lands, all the citizens have equal rights—all have a share in the collective right to those waste lands ; and if a few hundreds or even thousands by settlement acquire a further right of occupancy in certain parts of those lands, that right cannot extend to deprive the whole community at home of its interest in the whole. On the contrary, even when the lands are overspread with settlers and nominally alienated to private holders, the parent state retains its interest in the colony, as a colony, so long as it remains capable of absorbing any part of the redundant population from home. It is because we have waste lands in the Colonies that we are able to talk of settling the Irish question : otherwise nothing could be done but to let the excessive population of the ultra-pauperized districts die off.
Nor does the advantage of the colonists in the colonizing pro- cess cease with the nominal alienation of the lands. It is for the advantage of the actual settlers, in common with the whole of the state from which they spring, that the parent country should retain and recognize her interest in the waste lands. The wants of a colonial community are correlative with those of the parent state : she wants space of land ; they, labour and capital ; and the same process which appropriates to the use of the parent state the waste lands of the colony, conveys to them the labour and capital which they lack. The more those elements abound in an old country, the more valuable is that country to any colony as its parent state. The true connexion between a colony and a parent state consists in this efflux, until the distribution of people
* Report of the Select Committee appointed by the Peers " to consider the means by which Colonization may be made subsidiary to other measures for the improvement of the social condition of Ireland, and by which, with full regard to the Interests of the Colonies themselves, the comfort and prosperity of those who emigrate may be effec- tually promoted ; and to report thereon to the House : and to whom was referred the petition of the Inhabitants of Rathbarren, Barony of Liney and County of Sligo, whose names are thereunto subscribed, complaining of their distressed condition, and praying that they may be furnished with the means of emigrating to America."
and capital upon land has in an approximate degree been equal- ized. When that has been done, the relation of parent state and colony ceases ipso facto: separation is then but a more convenient distribution of government ; trade is but the usual commerce be- tween nations. If, through political blundering, separation take place before that process has been completed, it is premature, and both countries lose many chances of advantage. And if, through a misconception of the colonial relation, the process of active colonization be suffered to fall into abeyance, the Ministers have suffered the true connexion of parent state and colony to be broken off prematurely by a gross neglect of administrative duty. It is a dim instinctive perception of this truth which has made statesmen cling to colonies although sage economists denounced them as useless and costly appendages—which has made colonies cling to the connexion even when they were despised and ill- treated. But a more intelligent insight into the truth has now been created by the Free-trade movement on the one side and the exigencies of Ireland on the other. On the one side, the with- drawal of commercial protection has made the Colonies somewhat angrily ask, "What are the advantages of the colonial relation ?" but having thus been stimulated to inquire, they are beginning to perceive what the real advantages are. It would be most unwise to allow the colonists to learn simultaneously those advantages and the determination of the parent state to refuse them. The wants of Ireland have turned the attention of many at home to know what are the advantages of colonies. The witnesses before the Committee of the Lords may be said to have formed a confer- ence between mother-country and colonists to know what they could best do for each other ; and the result is cheering. It has been said that there is no longer any room in the Colonies : but see what are the facts. As to the Australian Colonies, see what Co- lonel Macarthur says even of the oldest, New South Wales. Mr. Uniacke and Mr. Cunard come forward to tell what may be done in the British North American Colonies, which have been de- scribed as useless for colonizing. Not, indeed, that a " shovelling out of paupers" is courted by the Colonies—Canada is just now suffering from the pestilential effects of indiscriminate and unre- gulated'emigration. But, while the bitterest complaints of the vaunted "spontaneous emigration" are coming home, we have practical men, leading colonists and official agents, showing how vast numbers of labourers—thousands, nay "millions"—may be absorbed by means of colonization on a comprehensive plan, in- cluding a basis of public works. We shall recur to the details of this subject. For the present, suffice it to say, that he who wishes to learn whether or not Ireland needs relief from redundant num- bers during that process of agricultural change which is ulti- mately to fit her for supporting a larger population at home— whether the process of settlement can be carried forward on fixed
plans so as to develop a new community with large and quickly- growing advantages for both parent state and colony—whether Irish make good settlers—whether space and means can belound for settling. the labourers—may find materials for determining those questions in the blue book issued by the Lords.
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