1 84 THROUGH THREEFOLD TENSION 



he denounced the annexationists of Canada, he 

 said: 



I anticipate indeed with others that some of the col 

 onies may so grow in population and wealth that they 

 may say: &quot;Our strength is sufficient to enable us to be 

 independent of England . . . the time is come when we 

 think we can, in amity and alliance with England, main 

 tain our independence.&quot; I do not think that that time 

 is yet approaching. But let us make them as far as pos 

 sible fit to govern themselves let us give them, as far 

 as we can, the capacity of ruling their own affairs let 

 them increase in wealth and population; and, whatever 

 may happen, we of this great empire shall have the con 

 solation of saying that we have contributed to the hap 

 piness of the world. 



This amiable and pacific pronouncement was 

 not relished by the Canadian authorities. It 

 involved a concession of the chief principle of 

 the annexationists and limited controversy with 

 them to the mere question of the proper time 

 for putting their project into effect. Lord 

 Elgin recorded a strong protest against the 

 prime minister s expressions, as seriously embar 

 rassing to the colonial government. Russell 

 undoubtedly voiced, however, the prevailing 

 political philosophy of his day. The free-trade 

 movement in Great Britain presented a com 

 bination of two clearly distinguishable ele 

 ments, a refined and gentle idealism and a crude, 



