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The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

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Colonial empires are wrong in principle. <strong>The</strong><br />

conception <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> thing itself is wrong. Colonial<br />

empires are built upon arbitrary <strong>the</strong>ories and force,<br />

instead <strong>of</strong> on natural law. <strong>The</strong> splendid colonial<br />

system <strong>of</strong> England is held up as an example <strong>of</strong> this<br />

type <strong>of</strong> government; but Goldsmith called upon<br />

legislators--<br />

“... to judge how wide <strong>the</strong> limits stand Betwixt<br />

a splendid and a happy land.”<br />

Lord Macaulay himself denied <strong>the</strong> value <strong>of</strong><br />

colonies, even to European nations:--<br />

“<strong>The</strong>re are some who assert that, from a<br />

military and political point <strong>of</strong> view, <strong>the</strong> West Indies<br />

are <strong>of</strong> great importance to this country. This is a<br />

common but a monstrous misrepresentation. We<br />

venture to say that colonial empire has been one <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> greatest curses <strong>of</strong> modern Europe. What nation<br />

has it ever streng<strong>the</strong>ned? What nation has it ever<br />

enriched? What have been its fruits?--Wars <strong>of</strong><br />

frequent occurrence and immense cost, fettered<br />

183

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