The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-09
Earl CarnarvOn's Larger Federation q
Federation Of Commerce.


When Sir Benjamin Pine became Governor
in-Chief of the British possessions commonly
known as the Windward Islands, he set him
self to work to form them into federation,
something similar to the Dominion of Canada.
Each of these islands has separate Governor
and separate Legislature but all of them,
with the exception of Nevis and st. Kits, are
heartily favorable to the plan. An attempt at
federating them was made in 1886, bat it
failed through mutual jealousies and the utter
stagnation of business consequent upon the
abolition of slavery. The Office of Governor
in-Chief has been in effect only nominal, and
each island has acted in all things independ-
entity of the others. England cared nothing
for them, because they were of little worth to
her, and, in their wretchedness and misery,
they cared little for themselves. Now, how
ever, things have changed somewhat for the
better. Industry is beginning to revive, and
commerce sees new prospects OF gain
among those tropical islands. From
Demerara and Trinidad to st. Thomas
the seas are whitening with English and
American sails, and the steamers of the Royal
Mail Company carry full freigbts both ways,
to be reshipped at the latter point. Jamaica,
which is also ultimately to be a member of this
new federation, has been able to prove, under
the vigorous administration of Sir J. p. Grant,
that it need not always be burden upon the
mother country. All the other British West
India islands have felt similar revivifying infu-
ences, and SO hopeful has the condition Of
affairs become that the Earl of Carnarvon even
dares to hope for a still larger federation.
What the noble Earl meant by his hope for
still larger federation it would be difficult to
determine, were it not for a single sentence in
the report of his speech in Parliament, which
throws light upon his meaning. 1.-The
change" he said, ''would no doubt lead to
economy and improved administration, but he
attached more Importance to the opportunity of
enlarged commerce which it would Offer" In
itself, federation which should include only
Jamaica, Antigua, st. Kits and some other
little islands would be useless. To make it
muda, the Bahamas, Barbados and British
Guiana. Without these it would effect nothing.
By strange confusion of the terms 'sleeward"
and ''windward" it is impossible to ascertain
the exact group Of islands included in Sir
Benjamin Pines original BILL but it is such
plain case of all or none that Earl Carnarvon's
larger federation must be taken to mean some
thing more than perhaps even he intended.
1t must mean federation Of commercial in
terests between England and America, which
should have its centre in the tropics, but
reach from the Indies of the West to the
Indies of the East.
1t is in this larger sense, and in this larger
sense only, that federation is important The
tive; but steady labor is much needed, and
especially is wise administration of public
affairs required. Ignorant and superclious
army officers, and poor noblemen, or poor de-
pendents of noble families, have been too often
charged with the important duty of their gov
eminent. The result has been that they were
the worst governed countries in the world.
Even Ireland is happy in comparison with
many of the British West India islands Alb
sentee landlords have sought to enrich them
selves and have impoverished whole colonies.
Jamaica, one of the most fertile and produc-
tive islands on the globe, cannot hope for a
complete restoration of prosperity till after her
abandoned Estates ore reclaimed by the Crown
and sold to the people on condition that they
shall be cultivated. The same thing is true Of
all the others, except Barbados, where the
necessity of obtaining bread by steady and un-
RENTING labor makes the entire island culti-
waited and the whole people Industrious.
Hitherto these islands, heavily taxed and
badly governed, have offered no inducements
to emigration, and no means were employed
to stimulate the industry of their own inhabi-
tants. 1t may we'll be doubted whether feder-
alton will at once bring about much better
state of affairs but in the larger federation at
which Earl Carnarvon limited there is much
promise for the future.
1t cannot be doubted that England and
America are destined to play very important
parts as commercial and political allies. Steam
and the telegraph, not less than common
language and common origin, bring the two
peoples wonderfully close together. The two
countries can never go to war, and will be
rivals only in finding the trackess paths of the
ocean and bearing to all the world the fruits of
the tropics and the spices of the East. While
the Latin races-France, Spain, Italy-are
fighting among themselves and falling to pieces
by the disintegration which follows national
in Central Europe and Russia pushing her
conquests further and further into Central
Asia, England and America alone are free
from the taints of the Latins and the faults of
the Prussians and their Russian allies They
will stand together against all encroachments
upon China. and unite in protecting their COM
merce, which is the commerce Of the world
l