The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-05

The Proposed English Federation-The
RussO-English Quarrel.


undertaken wholly on my own account, for my
health and pleasure. At the Cape of GOOD
Hope, where | stopped very brief period, l
went to see the official people to learn what was
going on. have been in that country before, as
a commissioner of the English government At
the time of my visit in January we were having
trou BILE again with the Beers The Cape of
Good Hope belonged originally to the Dutch.
It was passed over TO US by treaty, without con-
suting them. Naturally, they did not like that
kind of treatment. and there has been a jeal-
ousy between the Dutch and English colonists
ever since. Threef fths of the whites at Cape
Colony are Dutch and two ffths English. Then
there are the two States of the Transyaal
We made independent, where the
whites are completely Dutch The Dutch are
hard taskmasters over the blacks They get
into trouble with them, and then we are called
on to interfere between them. Then the diff
Guilty becomes serious. / don't think we wholly
understand the Dutch, and that we have trouble
with them on that account rather than because
of the difficulties of the situation. They are
stiff and hard republicans. They are also stern
old Calvinists. But at bottom they are very
good people. They are Industrious and hard
working. Indeed, they are about the only hard
workers | think we should cultivate better
acquaintance and good terms with them. Some
ten years ago they were much angered because
we took their diamond fields from them. l was
in Cape Colony at that time and urged the
British government to make restitution by
indemnifyiug the loss That done and
trouble averted. When was at the Cape IN
January. new difficulties were impending. and
force of troops was about to be sent up against
the Beers. Sir Charles Warren and IL, 900 men
were under orders to march to the frontier. OF
course am not apprised of the result OF that
movement. 1t was much against my judgment,
and the Prime Minister Of Cape Colony told me
that he should do all in his power to avert actual
hostllitieS Our position at the Cape is some
what different from that in our other colonies.
We have imperial responsibilities with which
the Cape colonial administration cannot inter
fere. The intricacies of our relations with
the Beers are so great that no fair understand
ing of it can be given to stranger in any short
statement"
About Australia Mr. Froude spoke enthusi-
asticaly 1T is a most exceedingly thriving
and go-anead place. The country is immense in
area, with rapidly growing population and is
exceptionally prosperous. What the future of
Australia is to be is the problem we are all anx
ious about Ispent two months there. In Eng
land there exists great anxiety that the mother
country and the colonies shall come into closer
understanding like your States here. 1t is a
matter about which have individually feltmuch
concern. But the more learn about it, the
| more intricate and difficult perceive the prob
lem is"
what are the main difficulties9"
IA question of terms is the first TO be raised.
Shall the colonies be represented in the House
of Commons and the House of Lords, and if so,
how2 There are difficulties of that kind Then,
the entire management of the affairs of the
colonies is now their own They are naturally
averse to giving up the rights they now possess
iE this direction, and come into an arrangement
by which they would share the expenses and
responsibilities of the mother country. They
want to know what reciprocity there is in the
| proposed change AT present they have all the
advantages and none Of the disadvantages of the
English government connection. We are bound
to protect them from all asgressions from out
side They are bound to nothing. I must say
that the colonies are intensely loyal to the Brit
ish government. The Russian affair was not
under way when l was III Australia, but the
fighting was in progress il the Soudan. New
South Wales was so eager in its loyalty that when
they heard Of Gordon's death they sent con-
tingent of 600 men at their own expense to join
the English forces at Suakim. If we get into
any serious trouble think we shall find Canada
and Australia quite willing to aid both with
men and means Yet they quite naturally say
in the colonies. why should we share the respon-
sibilities and burdens of war when we have no
voice in shaping the policy that makes war or
peace2 There is nothing in this that is against
the loyalty of the colonies. It is the natural
inquiry The colonies are wholly and absolute
ly loyal now, and will remain so as long as
Downing street does not interfere with their in
ternal affairs / am inclined to think, as to the
prospects of union. that we must all drift along
into common understanding. 1t cannot be
fastened much, but will come through common
interest"
w
II spent quite little time in the gold fields
Ballarat, the scene of the gold discoveries, has
developed into one of the most beautiful cities
of the word-beautiful in itself, and beautiful
in its surroundings of farms and we'll titled fields,
that are delight to the eye, and must be
source of prosperity to the owners and the peo
pie. Ballarat has inverted the fable of Midas.
He wanted everything turned into gold. They
have turned gold into everything that heart
could desire. The wheat Of Australia is fine in
Cualltv q n
India is England's wheat field, when quantity is
considered. Australia grows wool in great guam
titles. 1t is a great fruit garden. never saw
such fruit as | found there"
What is the principal topic of political or
governmental discussion thereV
The people are extremely sensitive and
Jealous about Germany getting foothold in
New Guinea. They want Monroe doctrine APP
piled to all that part of the world, and the dec
| laration made that all these islands must pass
under English protection. But they want Eng
land to proclaim and enforce it. They not
strong enough to do it themselves / said to
them that it wasn't just the thing for us to un-
dertake such a responsibility for them, while
they were in position at any time to take off
their hats and bid us good morning and that if
there was closer bond of union between the
colonies and England we might feel more dis
posed to meet their wishes. This was all in an
amiabe way, nor should it reflect at all on the
present bond of relation. The colonies are run
ming along smoothly and Loyalty under the pres
ent basis"
81 believe you also visited New Zealand"
eyes, and think New Zealand will eventually
be the finest and most prosperous of all those
countries. Australia has little rain, and crops
often fail. New Zealand has plenty of rain and
great rivers besides | think great race of
people will grow up there. The present popula-
ton is small-half million. The government
is pure democracy There are few foreigners
in the country. The workingmen, having all the
power, are opposed to immigration, because they
fear that it may lower wages. They conse-
quently secure laws which keep immigrants out.
The ordinary laborer gets shilling day at
Auckland for common working day. The
lands are in the hands of speculative companies
in the same way as in this country. and the
people are not settling them up as they should.
New Zealand is distinguishing herself just now
chiefly by reason of the enormous sums she is
borrowing. The money is largely spent in public
works. to keep the wOrkingmen employed and in