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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 55

Colonial Matters : Serfs or Freemen

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Colonial Matters : Serfs or Freemen.

Now having glanced at some of the great events which have taken place since we last met, I come to others of more domestic interest. What constitutes a great nation is this : Though events of transcendent importance are passing outside and likely even to burst in upon them, they still preserve their equanimity of mind and attend to their own affairs. They don't let their own nation go to ruin whilst they look outside. They have sagacity, energy, and ability enough to manage their own affairs and their domestic relations. Let us look at our own affairs, and see how we stand here. You think here you are all free men—(laughter)—and you are continually told that, I hear them say to you: "Sir George Grey tells you you are serfs—and are you so? Can't you go and eat and drink what you like? Have not you good wages?" Well, let us just look at the question whether we are so free. Firstly, my idea of freedom is this : That each man within the limits of the law can do what he likes, and each nation makes its own laws, that is, the people themselves make them. That is my idea of freedom. (Cheers.) I call a nation which obeys laws made by the few a nation of slaves. (Cheers.) Now one of the characteristics of slavery is this : A man has slaves and he is thought to be very good to them. He perhaps says to them, "I will give you a few provision grounds and you can grow a little food for yourselves in the evening when your work is over—(laughter)—and this will enable you to get a few luxuries." And the slaves are delighted. They say, "God bless Massa, how good he is." (Great laughter.) I have seen advertisements from time to time saying so-and-so is a friend of the working man. (Laughter, and cries of "Garrard!") The friend of the working man says, "Let us give him another half holiday in the year," and the working men immediately say, "God bless massa; how good he is !" (Renewed laughter.) They don't seem to chink whether they have the power to take care of themselves or not. The trains are their own; but if any one said he had got the fares reduced a little lower they would no doubt say, "God bless massa !" (Cheers.) But I will come back to that point, I will take this point, I will show you how things work here.