But what is really happening in Egypt? When we went there in 1882, we believed that our presence would have such immediate and beneficial results that, in a short time, we could leave the Egyptians to govern themselves. And yet, we are not out of the country, and few believe that we shall ever get out.

Imperialism and Militarism must go hand in hand. The acquisition of territory and its defense when acquired, have turned Europe into an armed camp. Our own military expenditure is also going up as our own Imperial responsibilities increase.

If we allow the military function to become of supreme importance in the State by pursuing a national policy which necessitates that the boundaries of our rule should bristle with bayonets, industry and citizenship will no longer determine the course of government.

Just in proportion as the attention of an electorate is centred upon policies and acts which they must judge by hearsay evidence, so does democratic vigilance disappear and a class of demagogues and of privileged persons dispute between themselves for the government of the country.

[I]f our manufacturers are encouraged to shirk the difficulties of producing for the civilized markets and are to look to semi-civilized people to consume British produce, the skill of our artisans will be lowered, the quality of their work will suffer, and their standard of living fall. Imperializm is indeed a policy of industrial deterioration, and by impoverishing the skill of the country and encouraging the worst forms of financial capitalism, must crush out every buddinng hope that labour has of becoming economically and politically free.