New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-01
BRITISH UNITED SIXTIES.

War Secretary Mr.. Cardwell. in q speech,
the points of which are given by Cable, takes
pleasure i'm commencing the reformed Colonial
policy of England. That policy, as nc states
it, has made Canada what she is, so se]f-reliant
that beginning with merchant navy which
is little inferior to that of France, she might
become one of the first maritime powers of the
world. The thought of distrustng self
reliance 80 pronounced as this does not occur
to Mr.. Cardwell, for he asserts, with an
enthusiasm which does him credit rs a
minister and Briton, that when that time
comes the English race will have such con-
federation as the world never saw under
single sovereign. Australia, India, Canada, and
the British Indies. East and West would, we
presume be included in this mighty bond OF
race. There would be a grand Congress of
English nations to which the British Parlia-
ment would be subsidiary, since 1T is not
to be supposed that the great far-lying
provinces can be content always with the
stray representation which they have in En-
glish councils. and the kind of aims govern
ment which is doled out to them from tho
mother country. Indeed, the International Con
gress Of AnglO-SaxOn peoples is an idea lately
put forth, not without some difiidence in its
possibility, by number of leading colonists
lately met in London.
For n Minister of State such plan as this
seems visionary; but English statecraft, COM
pick as it is, is comprehensive. The rulers
who have the versatile knack of governing
Ireland in one way, Scotland in another,
and India in still another, and who by
power and tact keep heterogeneous en-
npafnr taI la
way of solving their colonial problem.
Australia and Canada, however independent
they may become, are the natural allies OF the
mother country, and it needs but common
sense to keep them so. That they will seek
NATURALIZATION as peoples as duly and reason
sonably as the American colonies did when
they became the United States and that they
will surely demand voice in the councils OF
the worlds powers, we cannot doubt. AT what
remote or proximate future Australia may have
a difficulty of Alabama claims with the parent
country, or when Canada shall legislatively
condemn her England free-trade system, we are
not prepared to say Possibly the world now
means peace if ever, and our progress is hence
forth to be mainly in understandings, rather
than misunderstanding.
All this looks very well for the theory of
Mr.. Cardwell; but take the case of New
Zealand Here an almost bankrupt colony, I'M
aided by the mother land, is waging war on
the self-reliant principle. The war, which
was brought on by the conduct OF
imperial officers, is directed by the home
government, while it is entirely sustained
by the c0lonists. Thus the liege subjects of
Her Majesty afar off are at the entire expense
of bleeding for cause which, though altogether
their own, they have not the poor privilege of
prosecuting in their own way. The New-Zea-
landers groan and protest and threaten amia-
bly,; but the parent at home is calm and
unmoved. How long will other grOwn-up
provinces of England tolerate the oppressive
indifference which the self-reliant teaching de-
velops, notwithstanding its virtuesf Sef-re
lance is excellent, say the Canadians, pro-
vided that while it allows us to
pay our own bills the imperial authorities
do not impertinently oversee us and charge us.
In short, if the imperial colony must pay its
own way, it must in time demand complete
control of its own affairs; and the mothers
counsels of sef-reliance will. in that case, be
recommended back to her.