The Nineteenth Century , No 182, Apr 1892 [‎19v] (43/244)

528
THE NINETEENTH
April
I now come to the question of defence. Well aware tliat the
policy of levying a large tax upon the colonies for the support of the
army and navy of England was one of the principal attractions of
Imperial Federation with many in this country, and believing that
policy to be founded on misapprehension and fraught with danger,
I stated my opinion that the strength of the Empire would be better
promoted by the resources of the colonies being utilised in the future,
as they had been in the past, in opening up the great fields of
colonisation possessed by Great Britain in Canada, South Africa, and
Australasia, and providing for their local defence. As an illustration
of what could be done in that way, I referred to the construction of
a transcontinental line of railway by Canada at a cost to the country
of over twenty-five millions sterling, and for which the people are now
taxed nearly a million sterling per annum. I referred also to an average
annual expenditure of fourteen hundred thousand dollars for the per
manent force, for the training of 37,000 militiamen, and for the Koyal
Military College, which has already provided some seventy officers for the
British Army. My critics have misconstrued what I said into a state
ment that the construction of this great line of railway communication
was to be taken as a sufficient contribution by Canada to the defence of
the Empire, and, while not venturing to deny its Imperial importance,
have reminded me, that it was built for commercial purposes, and
that the capital was obtained in this country! The Intercolonial
Eailway was lengthened and its cost greatly increased at the instance
of Her Majesty's Government, for strategic purposes, and without the
Canadian Pacific Railway there could be no communication through
British territory between the older provinces and the North-West
and British Columbia. It was indispensable as a means of defence
and mutual support. Its Imperial value is not, I submit, lessened
because it opened up to settlement the great prairies of the Canadian
North-West, where forty millions of British subjects may find em
ployment in providing bread and meat for the people of this country.
I can bear the taunt that the capital for the Canadian Pacific Rail
way was found in this country when it is remembered that those
who supplied it have been paid the highest rate of interest, and
thus enriched, whilst those who sent their money to South America
have lost it. I may say, however, that I did not refer to what
Canada had done to promote the security of the Empire as in any
way absolving her from further expenditure, but as an indication of
her readiness to discharge her duty in this regard. I may say that
I differ toto ccelo with those who are apparently striving to convince
the British public that Canada is a burden to the Empire. One
member of the House of Commons has avowed the opinion that the
sooner England can rid herself of such an incubus the better, but I
feel confident that that sentiment is not shared" by half a dozen of
his fellow-members. The views of the great body of the public men