pire, it ought also to meet with their support.
But this should not be a party question: it must be a national question, about which, if men would take the trouble to think it out carefully, there should be no difference of opinion. England is such an overpopulated country, that not only its prosperity, but even its existence, is dependent on the maintenance of its power and possessions in undiminished security. Within the limits of the United Kingdom, there is scope neither for the employment of the large amount of capital accumulated in the country, nor for its large and energetic population. If we cannot continue to hold our own, our daily food supply will not even be secure to us.
The amount of 20 millions to increase our means of self-defence is but a trifle compared to the large sums which have been spent on fortifications and armaments since the Franco-German war by the two powers engaged in it. France is really the only European power which by itself would be able to undertake the invasion of England, and she continues to increase her navy far beyond any possible requirements of the colonial wars in which she is likely to be engaged. Every day appears to increase the probability of our becoming embroiled with that Power; and although the Government may at times think it expedient to give way on disputed questions, it must be remembered that there are certain lengths beyond which the people of this country will not go, and if once national animosities are aroused, it will not be within the power of any Ministry to prevent a war.
At the present moment there are questions simmering in Egypt, China, Africa, Madagascar, and the Western Pacific, which may boil over and bring about a war with France or Germany at any moment. We should have no European ally on whom we could depend for assistance, and most of the Powers would not look with disapproval on two of the richest countries in the world doing their utmost to injure and impoverish one another.
The present inefficient condition of our national defences is almost enough to tempt foreign Powers to attack us. If we were strong, as we ought to be, and easily could be, there is not a Power in the world that would venture to try our strength. Being a peace-loving nation, it is our duty to take the best means available to prevent war, and there is no surer way of doing this than by acting up to the old motto –
Si vis pacem, para bellum.
