The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-26
A Canadian Statesman on the Future
OF Canada.

Ni'u VI hlulllN w Ipl WdSbP llinp IN us
cussng matters which have been settled
once for all. From the fact, therefore, that
/ the political future OF the Canadian Domin-
/ ion supplies theme for animated debate on
the part of English statesmen and publicists,
We infer that considerable uncasncss exists
upon the subject The question has Of late
been handled from different points of view,
leading of course 10 widely different con-
| illusions. by MIR. GOODWIN SMITH, Lord
BLAcHroRD Sir JoHN LUBBoCK and Sir
julius NoGEL. Hitherto the views Of the
last named writer on colonial relations
have been invested with peculiar interest rs
omanating from an ex-AIinistcr Of New
Zealand. But a more important contribu-
ton to our knowledge Of colonial feeling.
and of the extent to which the slender tie
Of dependence on the mother country might
be strained, appears in the current number
of the NmeiccHM Century from the pen of u
Canadian statesman. Sir FRANCIS HINcKs.
These remarks Of Il thoroughly competent
and trustworthy observer need TO bo read
between the lines: but when subjected 20
close scrutiny they are not likely to yield
/ much comfort to the advocates Of greater
cumpactncss in the British colonial empire
or To the opponents Of annexation. As re-
CARDS the tone Of his article Sir FRANCIS
HfNCKs il Intensely loyal but. on the other
hand, his admissions are extremely signih-
cant. The question at the root Of the con-
troversy in which he has taken part lies
between the system now working in the Do
minion, whore sclf-goycrnment at home is
combined with gratuitous protection against
aggression from abroad, and scheme of
confederation under which local taxation for
federal purposes should defray the cost OF
mutual support. Sir FRANCIS HTNcRs makes
II very clear that arguments based on the
necessity of concerning means of self-de-
fence against foreign interference have no
weight with the Canadians. who can at any
time win absolute security by union with
the great American republic.
The private convictions of the Canadian
statesman may be Inferred from his objec
tions to the arguments brought forward by
Sir julius NoGEL for a closer association
of colonial and imperial interests. GOODWIN
SMITH. who. not long ago, predicted that an
noNation To the United States would be- the
destiny Of Canada had made II rcproach
10 the parti-aus Of Pam Brtannic confed-
Grafton that not one of them ventured to
take practical step toward its mlhlmcnt.
Now the New Zealand Minister was at some
pains TO make good this -hortcoming. and
it is curious that Sir FRANCIS HTNcKs shoulI
hasten to expose the iuexpcdirncy. not to
say iutility. 90 his suggestions. Sir FRANCIS
does not hesitate to affirm that Canada
would never dissatisfied with n tarif framed
Tor hcrby the Imperial Parliament; that the
Crown lands are more acccptably managed
by the local than they would be by British
authorities and that a military code regu-
latlng the means and responsibilities by
which the colonies should be defended and
should IN turn contribute TO imperial defence
would in the case Of Canada be simply ma
chine for fomcnting Quarrcls with the parent
state. He condemns as prcposterous the
idea Of Il representative council, which Sir
JULIUS NOGIL had caught up from n speech
OF MI DIsHAELI, and commended as the
best medium Of communication between the
Secretary of State and the Colonial Govern
mcnt such a board which forms the main
spring of the scheme Of confederation. could
exert he thinks, no pressure whatever on
the central powcr, and would be sure SO In
t"rncddlc in the local affairs of Canada. In
o'h'r words. it would be a nullity or a nui-
~unoe. This is the way in which the only
practical measures yet suggested looking
toward mora stringent relations Of colony
ANA parent State are disposed of by Sir
FRANCS IlNcKs; and ~ he substitutes
nothing in their stead, we conclude that
anything more intimate than the present
nominal and sentimental connection be-
tween the United Kingdom and the Cana
dian Dominion Is to his mind impossible
OF course, the men Of tact and discretion