The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-08

OF one OF the Catholic saints, the famous Francis
spoonful OF honey than With Barro full Of vinegar
Earl Grey British Colonial Empire.
Royal COLONIAL socIErY's ROOMS. /
Ga, VICTORIA ST., WESTMINSTER ABBEY, Oct. %.
To THE EDITOR or THE LONDON NEws.-
May beg the favor Of your allowing the accom-.
tho subject Or the relations between "s England and
l am. 80. JAMES A. You'll.
HowIcK Billion, Northumberland Sept. 4, 1869.
SIH-l read WIN much pleasure the letter ad-
dressed by yourself and Messrs. SeweI ana Blaine to
t,.e editor OF the fines on the Gath OF August The
hreaaIng UP or the great colonial empire or England
would IN my opinion, be calamity to the colonies,
to this country anu to tue world and cannot doubt
that YOU are right la believing thus to he toe result
wnlch must be looked for from the policy distinctly
declared by her Ma.estyis government. In order 70
avert the threatened misfortune do not see what
which You nave adopted In suggesting To the gov
ernment5 OF our most important colonies that they
February tor tue purpose OF considering the present
state or the relations between this country ana its
colonies, with the view OF recommending 10 her
MaJestys government measures for placing these
relations on better footing. But would take the
liberty OF pointing out to you tnat IN the letter you
have omitted 10 advert to some OF the consIdera-
tons which seem to me especially to require their
attention II they wish to preserve real AM living
empire. The fact ought not TO be overlooked that the
policy 10 which you justly object as tending directly
W btYtfuuCC vi tHl9 COuuGCtlOu, mas uDt
been taken up only or late by the present
Ministers Of the Crown. 1t may, perhaps. have
been more distinctly av0wed by them tnan
IL mad been previously; but .or some years 1t
mad been practically acted upon by their
predecessors. ana Is no doubt 10 accordance with
what Is now the prevailing opinion In Parliament
The adoption OF this policy (whcn consider to be
one OF seiiishness quite unworthy OF great nation)
aud the prevalence Of the opinion winch mas given
rise to It, must be regarded the direct and natural
consequence or the claim put i0rwufa OF iase years
on behalf OF tho colonies to be free from all control
them BY the imperial government. There is no one
WHO has always been mure opposed than myself TO
medding and yexatiouS interference on the part OF
that government IN the purely local and iRsernal
allalrs or colonies Of which the Inhabitants
paDie OF properly managing these affairs for them
selves. But ia tile administration OF all colonial
governments questions are continually arising
wnlch aiiect the interests not OF the particular
colonies but OF the empire as wnoia and
II would not DO dlcult " show thar or late
years the Inhabitants or many or colonies urged
ON by taose who pro- ss to SPEAK Tor them IN tIs
country. nave set up q claim (Which has been prac.
ticaisy concededj TO BE- allowed 10 deal even with
these questions according to their own WILL without
allowing the Imperial government to exercise that
authority without which due regard to the general
interests OF the whole empire aud an adherence 30
It's poilcy, cannot be secured IN the OF tho
several local governments. But II the Imperial gov
eminent Is TO exercise no authority over the colo
MES there Is no reason why IL should incur any re-
sponslbGy or expense on their benaif and the feel
Ing against doing so. which has Of late years been
strongly manifested in Parliament, has naturally
arisen from the exaggerated claims Tor colonial iree-
dom OF acuon wnicn nave been asserted. This, l
am persuaded, ID the true explanation Of the pre-
sent state or leeng in this country on this import
ant subject; lt cannot, therefore, be distinctly
understood by the colonies that the policy now
adopted towards them by the home government and
BY Parliament, and or WHICH they complain Is very
stle likely TO be altered unless they on their part
are ready to recognize the proprleiy OF the exercise
OF larger measure of authority over them py the
imperial government than they have Of late been
Wiling to submit TO- am DO md to say that, for
my own part, much as i deplore what regard as
the virtual dissolution oil our colonial empire by the
adoption OF the policy IN question, do not think
chat 1t ought 90 be abandoned except on the c0ndt
ton have mentioned. 1 VIII not now trouble you
with any statement OF my own views as 10 the prin-
cipies on which the limits should be determined
the ono hand, OF the claims or the COLONIES on The
Imperial government for protection and assistance;
and on the other, or the authority they ought
TO acknowledge as belonging to IL. am convinced
that these liuiits might be 80 laid down place
the mutual relations OF the different parts OF The
empire on o much better footing than ut present,
and that 1t would ne lar more Tor the true int est
both oil this country and OF It's dependencies tnat
this should DO attempted, than that the present
policy oil virtually scycrlng the connection between
shall be prepared TO give full explanation OF my
reasons for holding this opinion; at present my only
object Is TO suggest to you that IL seems 10 mo deslr
able that the attention Of the colonial governments
should be called to tire considerations lave adyerted
to III this letter before they decide whether thoy
Will follow your advice by sending representatives
to this country; ana, II SO, With what Instructions
their representatives are to be furnished. | have
the honor to he, Sir, your very obedient servant,
GREY.
JAMES A. You'll, Esq.