New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-18
Colonial AND IRISH GOVERNMENT

COLONIAL And IRISH GOPEhNMENIs
Earl Granville is a cool man, When an in
dignant New-Zealander limited to him the
provOcation his countrymen had to separate at
once from England, and ask assistance from
the United States, that complacent statesman
was happy He said, in effect, that any sepa-
ration would be much regretted but that it
was a matter more for New-Zealand's cOnsd-
Grafton than for that of the people of England;
if it would really be good for the New-Zea-
landers they had better go, but he much
doubted if it would be q judicious step to
take. Not thus has the English Colonial Sec
rotary ventured to speak of British Columbia,
though we hold it to be much cheaper sub
ject for nonchalant diplomacy and cold-blooded
craftsmanship. At this moment, however, the
cable tells us the cool Earl has withdrawn his
snubbing Of the colonists, which is to say that
some of them pray for closer connection with
the Crown, and Earl Granville is indulgently
not in favor of colonial independence.
This appears to be England's special colonial
difficulty, namely "That the late correspond
"ence of her Maesty's Colonial Secretary on
the New-Zealand question is most unsatis-
factory not only by a refusal, in terms of
unwonted dscourtesy, Of the aid of the Gen
eTal uONCIuuGul, III uO ludlltI MudI ClICuul-
stances applied for, to restore the Queens
authority in the Colony, but by the strange
doctrine left to be inferred, that rebellion
" and massacre in one part of the Queens do
"minions are no concern of the central power,
" but only of those of the Queens subjects
"who are upon the spot, and who, whether
"willing or unwilling, able or unable, are thus
" left to an enforced discretion in the case"
We quote from number of resolutions passed
at one of the series of weekly meetings de-
termned upon by the British Colonsts in
London. Not only from New-Zealand, but
from Jamaica, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and
British Columbia, comes, to use the words of
q Colonist, "a howl of lamentation" over the
colonial policy of England.
What is the remedyf The Times cOnfesses
that the scheme of an imperial federation, i'm
plying federal council, would be a failure,
and asks at the same time, Are the colonists
prepared TO submit to such body the ques-
" ton of tarifls7 Would they be prepared to
"assent to the abolition of all duties between
." the members of the federation What is it
they would freelyisubmit to AMI Assembly so
"composedqn The next question suggested is
whether such q case as that of New-Zealand
ought not to find helpful interest among its
fellow colonies, such as Austraia-a considera-
ton which at once recommends colonial con-
federation rather THAN an imperial one. An
idea of this kind Though undoubtedly pursuant
to Earl Granvilles declarations, cannot be so
welcome to British pride as one more conserva-
tive of empire; but of the two it is more logi-
cal and practicable. What is the world to
n IS Of 90
composed of England, Ireland, India, Australia,
Canada, Jamaica, and so fOrthR Simply this
that on the suggested questions of tariffs it
must emboly the greatest agreement to dis
agree of which national history is cOgnizant.
The truth is, we apprehend that at q certain
stage Of growth colonies must necessarily obey
the ihdividualizing law of nature and form
themseveslinto nations 1t is no more unrea-
sonable for Australia to aspire to republican
self-hood than it is for Canada, than it was for
the United States; and the day will inevitably
come, as Earl Granville apparently conceiyes,
when such an aspiration WILL under some quail
ifcation or other, assert itself The colonies
are oscillatng midway between the empire and
the republic. and dreams of united States dis
urbtheir inherited conservatism. England can
not do better than leave her grown-up children
benevolently to look out for themselves. Yet
we fail to see, as did that intelligent colonist,
Sir George Grey how Minister could say
to Ireland, We will retain you whether
YOU like it or not; and to New-Zea-
land, We are willing to cut you off if you
like to go. Suppose now that Great Britain
resolved to cut of her poor Irish sister without
shilling; suppose that she determined