Page:The A. B. C. of Colonization.djvu/36

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for if one-hundred more families be added to the number, they would be enabled to support a clergyman in comfort, without his being burthensome to the State, or be obliged to be supported by the contributions of a British public. Those, too, who are anxious to promote education would see that this National Bank would be deserving of their support, and with a virtuous population, clergymen and schools, respectable and religious families would be disposed to settle in the interior, and whose influence and example would be a public benefit. This would be a legitimate way for England putting forth her moral strength; towns and hamlets would spring up; the spires of churches would guide the traveller on his way; civilisation would advance hand-in-hand with religion, and this, Gentlemen, is what I consider Colonization to be.

I shall conclude this letter, Gentlemen, purposing soon to address you: a second one on Country Dispersion, &c., by remarking that Loans granted on the principles of this proposed Society, would tend to give a wholesome stimulus to self-exertion, and create a moral emulation amongst the people, for we cannot really be great as a nation except every man be made to feel that his individual conduct is thrown into the national scale, unless he is made sensible that he forms one of the common-wealth, and is an acknowledged and known member of the community. Much of our nationality—much of our character as a people rests upon our self-respect; upon the opinion formed of us by our neighbour, or the public. The people, the mass must feel this, and they do feel it in a much greater degree than some parties are willing to allow such honourable feelings to belong to the working-classes; but even supposing this allegation to be true—that the industrious classes in general