s of next April will show that the other has nearly forty
millions in the home islands and ten millions in the self-governing
Colonies. The two Powers have thus about the same population of white
men, and the two are likely to grow at the same rate.

In Britain the rate of increase will be less, but in the Colonies it
will be greater than in the States during the next half century. The
States will keep united. They have stamped out disunion. We have to
prove that we intend to keep the Empire united; but that can be done
only by giving the ten millions a gradually increasing share in common
privileges and responsibilities. Surely such a work is not beyond the
resources of statesmanship. For a long time decentralization was
needed. Now, all the signs of the times indicate the necessity to
centralize. The days of small powers are over, and modern inventions
make communication easy between east and west, as well as between
north and south.

If this is not done, what will certainly happen? Separation, first of
one part then of another; weakness of each part and weakness all
round. Think of the impetus that this would give to every force that
makes for chaos among the three hundred millions over whom God in His
providence has placed us. The work that the British Empire has in hand
is far grander than the comparatively parochial duties with which the
States are content to deal. Its problems are wider and more inspiring;
yet, at the same time, the white race that alone, so far, has proved
itself fit for self-government, lives by itself, instead of being
commingled with a coloured race to which only nominal freedom is
allowed. Any one who has lived either in South Africa or in the
Southern States will understand what a free hand and what an
unspeakable leverage this gives us. We need no Force Bill to ensure a
free ballot in Britain, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. Already our
sons are taking their part in introducing civilization into Africa,
under the aegis of the flag, and in preserving the _Pax Britannica_
among the teeming millions of India and southeastern Asia, those
peoples kindred to ourselves, who for centuries before had been the
prey of successive spoilers. Think of the horizon that this opens up,
and remember that in building a state we must think not of the present
but of the future.

In a generation all the best land on this continent will have been
taken up. But, thanks to the far-reaching wisdom of our fath