“They will be unaffected. They will always be made welcome in our country; law and order will prevail under the new system just as it prevails to-day. You English have taught us how to become a great people; you have given us the immeasurable benefit of your religion; you have given us a framework for our laws and constitution. When the time comes for us to make full use of that knowledge, you will find that your wisdom was not thrown to waste.”
“But the freedom you aspire to can only come by revolution.”
“Political revolution—yes; armed revolution—no. We natives of Jamaica think we frequently see indications in your English Parliament that your Liberal party would not be averse to granting us that freedom which, one day, we shall be strong enough to demand. I believe that in the end justice must prevail. I know that our independence must come because I know that it is just that it should come.”
“And,” I suggested, “if you cannot obtain it by peaceful methods you will take it by armed force?”
“I do not think, when we are ready, that armed force will be necessary. Jamaica is no longer of great value to England.”
“But England guards the interests of her children, and nearly all the land of Jamaica belongs to English planters.”
“The land of Jamaica belongs by natural right to the people of Jamaica.”