Now, there is only one other fact to which I need

Increasing (.g^jj yQ^^ attention as part of my case, of the foundation

the Colonies, which I lay, and that is that during the time in which

these changes in the conditions of our trade have taken

place, which we have seen recently — and I fear still greater and more

unfavourable chariges in the future — the only thing that has really given

us encouragement has been the continual growth and prosperity of our

trade with our colonies. In almost exactly the same proportion with

which the trade with these foreign protected countries has continuously

fallen off, trade with our colonies and possessions has continuously

risen, and if we have good trade to-day — if the last year, 1902, was one

of the best years that British trade has known, — it is not thanks to the

foreign trarde, which has decreased, but it is thariks to the colonial trade,

which has increased,



21?

How do I propose to meet this state of things ? t

Two propose, in the first place, to meet the foreigner with his

Proposals, own weapons. I propose to treat him as he does us,

until he treats us better, and I propose to treat our

colonies better than we have hitherto done. And in connection with

this I hope for something greater, in my opinion, even than increased

trade, greater certainly than material prosperity. I hope to lay fiim

and deep the foundations for that Imperial future which fills my heart

when I look forward to the history of the world. We shall unite the

British Empire not merely by a bond of blood and sympathy — that

already exists — but by that bond of commercial union which everyone,

to whatever party he may belong, everyone who had studied this

question admits to be necessary if the union is to be permanent.
