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Holland to the German Commercial Union； and through the closer
connection of Germany with the Dutch colonies。
Since the emancipation of the Spanish and Portuguese colonies
in South America and the West Indies； it is no longer indispensably
necessary that a manufacturing nation should possess colonies of
its own in tropical climates in order to put itself in a position
to carry on directly the exchange of manufactured goods against
colonial produce。 As the markets of these emancipated tropical
countries are free； every manufacturing nation which is able to
compete in these free markets can carry on direct trade with them。
But these free tropical countries can only produce great quantities
of colonial products； and only consume great quantities of
manufactured goods； if prosperity and morality； peace and repose；
lawful order and religious tolerance； prevail within them。 All
nations not powerful at sea； especially those who possess no
colonies； or only unimportant ones； have hence a common interest in
bringing about such a state of things by their united power。 To
England； with her commercial supremacy； the circumstances of these
countries cannot matter so much because she is sufficiently
supplied； or at least hopes to become sufficiently supplied； with
colonial produce from her own exclusive and subject markets in the
East and West Indies。 From this point of view also we must partly
judge respecting the extremely important question of slavery。 We
are very far from ignoring that much philanthropy and good motive
lies at the root of the zeal with which the object of the
emancipation of the negroes is pursued by England； and that this
zeal does great honour to the character of the English nation。 But
at the same time； if we consider the immediate effects of the
measures adopted by England in reference to this matter； we cannot
get rid of the idea that also much political motive and commercial
interest are mingled with it。 These effects are： （1） That by the
sudden emancipation of the blacks； through their rapid transition
from a condition of disorder and carelessness little removed from
that of wild animals to a high degree of individual independence；
the yield of tropical produce of South America and the West Indies
will be extremely diminished and ultimately reduced to nothing； as
the example of St。 Domingo incontestably shows； inasmuch as there
since the expulsion of the French and Spaniards the production has
greatly decreased from year to year； and continues to do so。 （2）
That the free negroes continually seek to obtain an increase in
their wages； whilst they limit their labour to the supply of their
most indispensable wants； that hence their freedom merely leads to
idleness。 （3） That； on the other hand； England possesses in the
East Indies ample means for supplying the whole world with colonial
products。 It is well known that the Hindoos； owing to great
industry and great moderation in their food and other wants；
especially in consequence of the precepts of their religion； which
forbid the use of animal food； are excessively frugal。 To these
must be added the want of capital among the natives； the great
fruitfulness of the soil in vegetable products； and the restriction
of caste and the great competition of those in want of work。
The result of all this is； that wages in India are incomparably
lower than in the West Indies and South America； whether the
plantations there are cultivated by free blacks or by slaves； that
consequently the production of India； after trade has been set free
in that country； and wiser principles of administration have
prevailed； must increase at an enormous rate； and the time is no
longer distant when England will not only be able to supply all her
own requirements of colonial produce from India； but also export
great quantities to other countries。 Hence it follows that England
cannot lose through the diminution of production in the West Indies
and South America； to which countries other nations also export
manufactured goods； but she will gain if the colonial production in
India becomes preponderant； which market England exclusively
supplies with manufactured goods。 （4） Finally； it may be asserted；
that by the emancipation of the slaves England desires to hang a
sword over the head of the North American slave states； which is so
much the more menacing to the Union the more this emancipation
extends and the wish is excited among the negroes of North America
to partake of similar liberty。 The question if rightly viewed must
appear a philanthropical experiment of doubtful benefit towards
those on whose behalf it was undertaken from motives of general
philanthropy； but must in any case appear to those nations who rely
on the trade with South America and the West Indies as not
advantageous to them； and they may not unreasonably inquire：
Whether a sudden transition from slavery to freedom may not prove
more injurious to the negroes themselves than the maintenance of
the existing state of things？ whether it may not be the task of
several generations to educate the negroes （who are accustomed to
an almost animal state of subjection） to habits of voluntary labour
and thrift？ whether it might not better attain the object if the
transition from slavery to freedom was made by the introduction of
a mild form of serfdom； whereby at first some interest might be
secured to the serf in the land which he cultivates； and a fair
share of the fruits of his labour； allowing sufficient rights to
the landlord in order to bind the serf to habits of industry and
order？ whether such a condition would not be more desirable than
that of a miserable； drunken； lazy； vicious； mendicant horde called
free negroes； in comparison with which Irish misery in its most
degraded form may be deemed a state of prosperity and civilisation？
If； however； we are required to believe that the zeal of the
English to make everything which exists upon earth partakers of the
same degree of freedom which they possess themselves； is so great
and irrepressible that they must be excused if they have forgotten
that nature makes no advances by leaps and bounds； then we must
venture to put the questions： Whether the condition of the lowest
caste of the Hindoos is not much more wretched and intolerable than
that of the American negroes？ and how it happens that the
philanthropic spirit of England has never been excited on behalf of
these most miserable of mankind？ how it happens that English
legislation has never intervened for their benefit？ how it
happens that England has been active enough in deriving means for
her own enrichment out of this miserable state of things； without
thinking of any direct means of ameliorating it？
The English…Indian policy leads us to the Eastern question。 If
we can dismiss from the politics of the day all that which at this
moment has reference to territorial conflicts； to the dynastic；
monarchic； aristocratic； and religious interests； and to the
circumstances of the various powers； it cannot be ignored that the
Continental powers have a great national economic interest in
common in the Eastern question。 However successful the present
endeavours of the powers may be to keep this question in the
background for a time； it will continually again come to the front
with renewed force。 It is a conclusion long arrived at by all
thoughtful men； that a nation so thoroughly undermined in her
religious； moral； social； and political foundat