New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-23
UNEASY BRITISH COLONIES.
ERASTUS WIMAN ON THE SITUATION.
HE DISCUSSES THE ATTACK on FREE TRADE
IN THE RECENT BRITISH CON-
MERCIAL CONGRESS.

When man Of broad sympathes and w1de Kho"ieusc
Of economical questions. whose mlnd mas Oceh o'"P
ened BY Intimate contact with American ouslces "oi
and prominent personages on both sides OF the Az
antic takes part in a meeting of the impor'ah'e anu
representative character of that OF the Associated Cha
bcs Of Commerce Of the British Empire. recently heio
in London his impressions Of the affair make ih''s7
reading Erastus Wiman, who pays taxes TO tnSeio
Sam and allegiance to Queen VICTORIA has 'u''
come back brown as a berry from monthss run
abroad and OVERLOOKING with interesting talk ABOUT t'
British Commercial Congress, OF which he was MEM
Der representing Canadian constituency. In speak
ing of the experience yesterday he said ut was an
opportunity in the life OF busy man TO DC doie
to meet and confer with such large number Oh us
tinnshed men, representing nstiOnalhes so Vareu
and possessing information and views Of the greatest
possible interest Representatives from the remotest
parts of the earth present Merchants ana
traders from Tasmania the Transvaal and lrnldad
from Ceylor and Hong Kong from south Africa ana
further Asia together with able men from every centre
Of the United Kingdom took part in the proceedings
The main question dlscusSed-that OF the relations
hereafter to exist between Great Britain and her
colonies-is an intensely important topic to those who
realize the controlling part In the worlds CIVILIZATION
which the Anglo-Saxon Is playing IL would be diili-
cult TO imagine the consequences that would result
from the dislnemberment Of the British Empire which
now shapes and moulds the government OF over one
eighth of the habable globe including population OF
over $50 100000 OF souls Just how far England
lneryenes IN this vast governmental task may be ndi-
Gated BY the influence that she yet Ia North
America where she still controls the greater half OF
the continent and where great sacrifices are borne oy
the inhabitants OF that region to maintain their allcgi
ance to the mother country, Great Britain 10 affcc
tionaely called.
Indeed. the paramount impression created on the
mind of the impartial observer Of this Congress was
the intense loyalty that pervaded IT. equally with the
admiration for the institutions of government that
couM 30 successfully administer affairs over vast
areas widely separated. and with interests 50 diver
gent. vet retaining devotion 50 sincere ana pro
nounced as the delegates exhibited from every land
Notwithstanding this exhibition Of loyalty. however,
the impression next most marked was the apparent
realizing that there was danger oil dlsnt grafton
In the British Empire, because perhaps, OF lis wide
spread character and largely because OF the impend
ing conflict which Is growing between seHlhtereSt
and the material advantage from independence on
the one band and the sentiment OF loyalty. on tle
other. Even the secession OF one colony could not
be contemplated for it would certainly be followed
by serious consequences all over the world. fof
Instance the OF Canada, 1t has been predicted by
the wisest OF Canadian Tories. Dalton Mccarthy wouu
result in reducing Great Britain to a secondchss
power
"T1ere certainly was apparent throughout TIE pro
ceadinC, fear OF the future, and urgency In tlo
demand for "A change In policy, In order that '"o
colonie, should be held t. Great Britain BY ties OF
interest as they now held by bonds 81 anec'ol'
This fear Of impending change finds expression In thc
literature OF the Imperial Fcieratonists new ana
growing party, in such expressions aS Fed"ra'e or
ncrish II was also plainly evident In the startling
nropo,ai debated for three days In the Congress
that Great Britain should completely reverse her
heretofore successful commercial policy. ana MAKE Il
altogether In favor OF the colonies IL was p'upo'i
that a duty be levied her imports from the .HlDu
states Russia and all other foreign countries, whic
nj cd
duc, and that She should thus discriminate In favor
NJ the colonies stimulating the production oil all
necessary supplies thereip. The idea was i"Nor'u'
OF course, by Canada, who would thereby become "a
great food producing REGION az also oN H'u'" M"
other southern dependencies, as II would give them
,,oot advantage in cotton over the United states
u,oa eoutl crn interests would thereby BE still even
more seriousy depressed. In return Tor this po"''
the colonies proposed equally 10 discriminate j" law"
Of Great Britain against the imports from tue 'm''u
States and other countries
.The proposition emboiyng the abandonment OF lree
trade was most vigorously urged by Sir Charles iuP
nor ON behalf Of the Government OF Cannoa. whose
parliament had passed resolution favorlng TINS reV"
ti,nary idea while the Canadian constituents oi Inv
Congress almost 10 . man, had been carefully p''ScN
I'm advance TO vote for IT, The proposition was NOV"
ever destined to complete collapse. for. after quiet
work especially among English. Australian ana west
,d,o, delegates the original resolution was lost, ana
an amendment carried stigmatzing the PIpP',aI hs
politically dangerous and eo".onMIcanS g1s1
enough TO remark had 'Wimanlsuc haVor. wa
grt.st triumph especially for those VINO wahuH 10
see tAc English speaking rcop.e on thl CON- th
drawn closer together, by slnKng V1t 0i ~, ~
having tho nc Of dcnhcaiiOn made more THiu anu
offensive than ever, which would have been the lc-
'"' Iin, The fact was significant that there was no
substitute proposed IT other remedy Olef 7n Us !"
and after all the preparation, Of mohhs ions onioi
by delegates and careful canvass inc E'a' oo ie
problem which Great Britain has Oh manu- WIS '''
There were numerous other TOPICS discussed 81
iutcrcolOnlal concern. and tie debates TOOK Dr~iu
range o. Information, always instructive ana interest
ing. Indeed. until the last hour the attendance was
scope IN constant notion because OF the variety ana
character. the vieor and Intelligence of thc lHruo
In RESPONSE to The question. why he had not as a
delegate publicly participated TO eTentcr rXicnt IN
long residence in the United states and his identified
ton with business interests here, he felt dchcacy IN
urging his views. especially his ap90intinent III
Canada had provoked criticism end his fellow Canadian
delegate, feared that he more intent In promoting
1t was rm1rluabe." confirm sir Wiman. through
ont the Congre~ that the pole the hh1 1e
controlling than those Of my other nationan'Y or 81
any other Influence 1t was gratifying 70 realize thai
concentrated, ana where barely hundred years ago
Ameri i should be The scene q So much anxiety
country which has In that short period attained 50
powerful n position among the nations Of the earth
with productions 50 vast and with policy 80 sue
ccssfn compel all other nations 10 recognize ~
one could not help ponderng that II fills was the
result OF the first hundred years growth. In which
great had 10 hc fought and during which period
almost sole attention had been given 10 Internal de-
vcl0pment and the creation Of n vast internal com
mercn what would be the consequences. within even
the lifetime Of children living. should the United
States tnn hs attention 10 foreign trade rs u gets
nearer the limit Of It's internal development"
LIEUTENANT MAYS BODY SENT HOME.
The body II Lieutenant MAY taken Yesterday