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234 ECONOMIC INQUIRIES AND STUDIES
and it would be a serious matter if the Empire were to
be increasing beyond the force of the race by which it
is held together. .
The figures we have had to-night, however, supply
the answer. The increase of the Empire in population
altogether has been 44 per cent., and would be a little
more if we included Egypt and the Soudan; and the
increase in the English parts of the Empire is 33 per
cent. Numerically this impHes a growth of the subject
populations generally in excess of the growth of the
governing race. On the other side, however, has to be
reckoned the enormous growth of the governing race
in resources. The increase of revenue and of business,
apart from annexations, is most remarkable, in reality,
in the English portions of the Empire j and if we were
to go more into detail, and include such elements as the
growth of the shipping fleet of the Empire, this relative
growth of the English portions of the Empire would
be still more remarkable. Apart also from the special
additions to the Empire by way of annexation, the
growth of the governing race appears to keep pace
with that of the subject races. Large as is the growth
of population in India, the most important part of our
subject Empire, the percentage increase is only 31 per
cent., which includes a certain amount of annexation,
while the percentage increase in the governing races
without any annexation is 33 per cent. Looking at all
the probabilities we may consider it fairly certain that
this relative growth will continue. The proportion of
the governing race to the subject races, barring annexa-
tions, will rather increase than diminish.
The serious fact in this question of force to hold the
Empire together is, however, not the internal position,
but the position of the Empire with reference to other
nations, on which, perhaps, one may be allowed to say
a word. Very great changes have been occurring in
the world outside our Empire, as well as within the
Empire itself, and our position may be thereby affected.
although we are stronger internally than before.