Here too is a great, homogeneous people, one in blood, language, religion and laws, but disposed over a boundless space. We shall see that though it is held together by strong moral ties, it has little that can be called a constitution; no system that seems capable of resisting any severe shock. But if we are disposed to doubt whether any system can be devised capable of holding together communities so distant from each other, then is the time to recollect the history of the United States of America. For they have such a system. They have solved this problem. They have shown that in the present age of the world political unions may exist on a vaster scale than was possible in former times.
No doubt our problem has difficulties of its own, immense difficulties. But the greatest of these difficulties is one which we make ourselves.
It is the false preconception which we bring to the question, that the problem is insoluble, that no such thing ever was done or ever will be done; it is our misinterpretation of the American Revolution. (Expansion of England, by J. R. Seely, M.A., p. 158.)
[ APPENDIX No. I.]
DISCOURTESY versus ARGUMENT.
FREE TRADE vs. FAIR TRADE.
Mr. Blood’s Letter to Mr. Bright.