The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-10

slightest shade of that parental indifference
as to the selfish possession of her colonies
which is now becoming constitutional with
the mother country. The parent is old and
prosperous and comfortable, has happily out
lived the fallacy that territorial obesity is
main strength, and is awake to the need of
giving freedom to her members and suffer
ing her children to to have the fair play of
their instincts and faculties. The colonial
children have attained a majority, the
mother contemplates their union among
themselves. and even hears without great
concern proposition that some of them shall
be married off her hands We think Sir
John Young has said something TO this effect,
and said it with so British an air that we
doubt not he has reflected Mr.. Gladstone's
sentiments in spirit, if not in letter. Gov
ernor Sir John again says that, though every
fault in the world, down to the misdirection
of shoal of mackerel is laid at the door
of confederation, yet is the fact of union in
dispensable to the well-being of the American
colonies. The Dominion has a career before
it which it may safely and honorably pursue,
not only undisturbed, but, he also believes
with the complete goodwill of the people of
the United States. Sir John may securely
calculate upon the American disposition to
tolerate the largest liberty of choice in such
matters as colonial dominion. We have
States enough, to be sure. The continent is
wide enough, in all conscience. The Hud-
son Bay Territory has ample room and verge
enough to permit free field to adventurous
nationalities which seek to build upon the
foundations of their enterprise history and
economy of their own.
Canadian Confederation is one thing: Aus
tralian Union is another. What was fore
shadowed in our correspondence month ago
is verified by the appearance in England of
an independent call for a conference in Lon
don of duly appointed representatives from
all the Australasian colonies of England. To
obtain colonial representation in Parliament,
to place the more advanced of the colonies on
a diplomatic footing, to administer colonial
affairs by board, are some of the motions
for reform which are limited in advance for
the consideration of such an assembly.
The general complaint of the colonists is
that the mother country recognizes mo res
possibility for their welfare or safety, nor
any obligation to help them, even in circum-
stances of great danger and pressing
need" Though the home side of the
question will hardly admit this statement of
fact, we conceive that the complaint of the
Australians is in the natural course of events
Just what it should be. Britannia having per-
formed the matronly Office of bringing up all
her territorial children by hand, has no longer
any anxious care for their destiny. They are
big enough to protect themselves; they are
very far off. After large experience of pos
sessing and losing, after having spent mil
lions of money on unrighteous wars, the his
toric dame has reached the generous conclu-
sion that the greatest of national riches are
to be found in the magnaninlity of letting well
alone. Without making vain effort to keep
her wonderful possessions in an imperial grasp,
sheis content to allow them the chance to grow
as great as herself. This is not only in the
best taste, but it is a matter of necessity.
Australia is too populous and prosperous to
be longer considered floating appendage of
the British empire thousands of miles away.
| At the same time it is one of the phenomena
| of the age that what was formerly matter of
| revolution is now only one of evolution.
States are changing their relations by law
| of peaceful growth. and governments are
almost guilty of Christian renunciation with
view of acquiring such thing as moral
power over their possessions.
| For ourselves. we are more interested in
seeing other nations ell-governed by them
selves than by us. 1t will save these United
States a world of trouble if some crying
States will comfortably and freely keep their
| identities, and leave us to ours unmolested,
Great nations stand responsible for aid and
! comfort to their weaker relations, and can
| scarcely escape the task of turning good Sa-
maritan, and nursing some infirm nationality:
but if State can keep its feet, and walk and
work for itself, by all means let it do so. Om
interest is in seeing the world well self-gov
| erned We have something at stake in that
| interest, above and beyond our nationa
aggrandizement, and count no addition OF
territory gain that comes with self-seekin&
on our part Let our neighbors govern them
selves literally and ably, and they will have
gone far to deserve our welcome whenevel
they shall apply for annexation, and our re
spect if they shall not We think We discove
! reciprocity of tone in this statement of th'
position of the United States and that uttered
by Sir John Young on the part of England
1t is proof that both countries have grown
too great to fear.