The record-union., 1891-05-17
LoosENING OF COLONIAL BONDS

Rarper's Weekly, which has all along
treated the Newfoundland difficulty
with intelligence and road-mindedness
says, after summing up the whole matter,
that the only permanent solution lies in
the extinction of the French rights:
The great interest of Newfoundland is its
fisheries, and ii would seem to be impractical
BILE that foreign power should continue to
have exclusive control for fishery purposes Of
an important part of the coast. 1t is one Of
the questions which, when they arise, can be
wisely settled in one way only. The present
feeling on the island recalls our own colonial
excitement before the Revolution. The action
of England is denounced as harsh and there
is even talk of possible separation. The situa-
tlon is naturally trying. \ British colony can
hardly see with equanimity the British navy
maintaining against British subjects French
right TO exclusive privileges in the COLONY
Should the difference be eirreconcilable, Parlia-
ment would doubtless acquieSce in a serious
proposition of separation if it were evil
IDENTIFY supported by the sentiment of the
island. The colonial system in the old sense
is vanishing. Military and naval stations
which are essential TO the British belt around
the globe will be undoubtedly maintained
But although England fought hard and long
to retain her old American colonies. she
would probably part with Newfoundland with
out struggle If Newfoundland really wished
to go.
The RECORD-UNIoN took that view of
the matter recently, and carried the logic
of the argument on to apply to the Cam
adas. While it is in the power of Eng
land to hold Newfoundland, to crush
rebellion with scarcely an effort, and to
force observance of French claims upon
the people, it would be sorry conquest,
one over ones own, and without any
compensating benefit whatever. "You
can whip u.s." cried an earnest New
foundlander in the local Parliament, "but
If you wrong US, you cannot make US love
you" And that is really the whole ques-
ton. Great Britain cannot desire to hold
any colony Of English people III ct a7nats.
Yet that is what must be done or the
French claims must be abandoned. How
they shall be extinguished is another
question-purchase would seem to be the
better method, and purchase or treaty
trading will probably be adopted
The time will come when Canada will
also be demanding greater freedom. Her
drift is toward Dominion independence,
for precisely the reason the New York
paper gives in the case of Newfoundland
colonial ties are rapidly loosening. In
fact, the hold of the Home Government
upon the Canadas is to-day very slender.
and if they were next week to ask leave
to withdraw from beneath the Jurisdiction
of the Crown We believe that within a
year thereafter the withdrawal would be
accomplished peacefully, and with little
or no resistance upon the part of the Eng
lish Government. But if annexation
were the ultimate purpose in view, Eng
land would strenuously resist, for the
Canadian people are so divided upon that
suggestion that very large majority
would be found in opposition, and would
demand and receive the substantial sup
port Of the Home Government. The
Canadas as an independency would be
quite as close for all business purposes to
England as they are to-day Certainly
no one who has diligently studied the sit
uation, kept pace with the sentiment of
the people, noted the drift of the public
thought, and observed the forces that
brought about Australian federation, can
entertain any doubt that before the close
of the century Newfoundland will be free
of the French or of England's rule-pos-
sibly of both. Neither can close observ-
| ers be blind to growth of sentiment in
the Canadas that means ultimate inde-
! nandanca