Title: Sir George Grey, Pioneer of Empire in Southern Lands

Author: Geo. C. Henderson

Publication details: E. P. Dutton & Co. Inc, 1907, London

Part of: New Zealand Texts Collection

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page vii

Editor's Note

To set the life of Sir George Grey in its historical setting and soberly to estimate his place in a great historical development is no easy task. It would have been simpler to present him as hero, enthusiast, humanitarian, idealist, contending single-handed against hard and unsympathetic politicians abroad and governments at home. But to many the real interest of such a life is in tracing its effects, and discovering how it works in its own sphere of influence. The endeavour made in this book to show how ideal forces operate in the field of statesmanship in building up new nations, has hardly yet been seriously undertaken. We have still to estimate the worth of the idealist in history. It may be claimed for this book that it gives a new meaning and colour to the phrase "Missionary of Empire." It is seen that the British Empire has won its way in many parts of the world because it has represented certain broad principles and methods of dealing with men; such as the recognition of the rights of personality, the subordination of government to the interests of the governed, even at the cost of momentary unpopularity, the establishment of just relations between all the citizens of a country, faith in the future, freedom from cynicism, the whole-hearted use of positions of power and influence in the interests of moral feeling, educational enthusiasm and the public good. These instincts and habits of mind have stood for more than the particular measures in which they have been incorporated.

page viii

Professor Henderson has spared no pains in the endeavour to make his book a genuine piece of historical research. He has visited New Zealand and South Africa in order to deal with documents at first hand. His book is a serious study in a successful and influential type of Colonial, or perhaps more correctly Imperial, statesmanship. The fact that Professor Henderson's work lies in Adelaide explains why an editor has been required. I have seen the book through the press at his own request.