INTRODUCTION. 33 



The spectacle afforded by these republics, dragging on a 

 miserable existence, though favoured with immense and rich terri- 

 tories, rich mines, and still richer vegetable productions, is an 

 impressive lesson to those who desire to study the history of man- 

 kind in its various phases. Had these beautiful and fertile 

 countries passed, from the despotic rule of Spain, under a wise 

 and progressive monarchical system, instead of entangling them- 

 selves in the complicated machinery of self-government, they 

 would now, in all probability, be thriving states, and blessed with 

 a peaceable and industrious population. Look, for instance, at 

 Brazil that remarkable and striking exception ; look at the 

 Argentine republic, under the dictatorship of Rosas ; at Mexico, 

 under the rule of Santa Anna ; look even at the St. Domingan 

 republic, under Bozer, and the Haytian empire, under Soulouque. 

 Is it not remarkable that things have succeeded better where 

 self-government has not been permitted or established ? 



Some persons might feel inclined to adduce the British West 

 India islands as an example of successful representative govern- 

 ment. But these colonies cannot be said to enjoy that form of 

 administration ; for first the governor, or head of the executive, 

 is nothing else than a commissioner appointed from Britain to 

 administer the affairs of the colony, over which he presides; 

 secondly all the measures adopted by the Houses of Assembly, 

 in the different islands, ere they become law, must receive the 

 sanction of a council of government, the members of which are 

 nominees of the crown that is to say, of the governor some of 

 them being actually public officers ; so that governmental influ- 

 ence is to be traced to the mother country, and does not reside 

 in the colonies themselves. The privileges enjoyed by the 

 chartered colonies more resemble municipal institutions than 

 self, or even responsible, government. That form of constitution 

 has therefore answered well, because it is better suited to these 

 islands than a more liberal system; and I do not entertain a 

 doubt that, should these colonies be freed from the control 

 exercised by the home government, prejudice and hatred en- 

 gendered by reminiscences of past wrongs, and antagonism of 

 races would create an effervescence in the body politic, such 

 as almost instantly to produce a dissolution of the entire frame- 

 work of society. 



But paramount to these, are religious institutions ; and reli- 

 gion has, evidently, the largest share of influence on the des- 

 tinies of mankind. It may be truly said, that wherever Christ- 

 ianity has obtained an ascendancy, there civilisation has pene- 

 trated, together with its blessings for, Christianity alone holds 

 the secret of man's destinies; and it is remarkable, that the 

 civilising influence of religion is in proportion to its accord- 

 ance with Christianity. 



