know that capitalists, left to themselves,
would mercilessly exploit the labour of the coloured man. That is
precisely the reason why they should not be left to themselves, but
should be under the control of the British Empire. It is a reason why
Crown colonies should supersede Chartered Companies; it is a reason for
much that is often called 'shallow Imperialism.' If the present war had
been staved off, and if, by mere lapse of time and increase of numbers
_without British intervention_, the Outlanders had come to be the
masters of the South African Republic, they might have established a
system of independent government quite as bad as that now in existence,
though not hardened against reform by the same archaic traditions."

To my mind some of the published utterances of the Originator and
members of the "Chartered Company" are not such as to inspire confidence
in those who desire to see the essential principles of British Law and
Government paramount wherever Great Britain has sway. There is the old
contemptuous manner of speaking of the natives; and we have heard an
expression of a desire to "eliminate the Imperial Factor."

This elimination of the Imperial Factor is precisely that which is the
least desired by those who see our Imperialism to mean the continuance
of obedience to the just traditions of British Law and Government. The
granting of a Charter to a Company lends the authority (or the
appearance of it) of the Queen's name to acts of the responsible heads
of that company, which may be opposed to the principles of justice
established by British Law; and such acts may have disastrous results.
It is to be hoped that the present awakening on the subject of past
failures of our government to enforce respect for its own principles may
be a warning to all concerned against any transgression of those
principles.

Continental friends with whom I have conversed on the subject of the
British Colonies have sometimes appeared to me to leave out of account
some considerations special to the subject. They regard British
Colonization as having been accomplished by a series of acts of
aggression, solely inspired by the love of conquest and desire for
increased territory. This is an error.

I would ask such friends to take a Map of Europe, or of the World, and
steadily to regard it in connection with the following facts. Our people
are among the most prolific,--if not the most prolific,--of all the
nations. Energy and