We  thought  the  relation  one-sided,  and  said  so  very  plainly.  We  were
eonndly  rated  for  our  presumption  by  the  British  imperialists,  and
by  the  colonial  squatters,  many  of  whom  were  beginning  to  return
to  England  with  fortunes  rapidly  acquired  under  the  system.  But
our  views  were  taken  up,  and  the  situation  rapidly  improved.  The
colonists  recognized  that  if  they  were  part  of  an  empire,  they  had
duties  of  self-defence,  and  a  farther  duty  in  the  direction  of  general
defence,  and  at  the  present  time  I  do  not  know  that  there  is  a
British  regiment  in  colonial^  quarters.  Whether  we  are  making
&  better  use  of  these  regiments  at  present,  I  do  not  care  to  inquire.
I  am  sure  that  the  moral  tone  of  the  Colonies  has  improved,  and
4hat  our  controversy  was  justified.  At  that  time,  however,  Mr.
•Goldwin  Smith  and  I  were  credited  with  a  design  of  breaking  up
the  unity  of  the  British  Empire,  and  had  to  pay  the  usual  penalties
for  premature  wisdom.
The  British  Colonies  were  for  a  long  time  governed  from  Downing
Street,  and  by  the  permanent  officials  of  the  Colonial  Office.  They
had  a  nominal  system  of  Parliamentary  and  responsible  govern-
ment, but  were  subjected  to  a  thousand  checks.  Discontent
naturally  followed,  and  discontent  gradually  ripened  to  rebellion.
As  you  will  find  happening  over  and  over  again  in  English
history,  the  rebellion  was  chastised  in  the  open  field,  the  leaders
tried,  convicted,  and  sentenced  to  the  penalties  of  high  treason.
