The sun., 1894-09-02
A Federation OF the EngIish.spesking q X In z
peOple.

Ihe olu colonial system OF tfetu DrNa'h'
after giving birth to the American Rerolu-
tion and TO the Canadian rebellion OF 1897,
~ we'll as to much maladministration and
discomfort In other colonies, departed its
unbenefcent life. Practical self. govern
ment was conceded to the colonies, and
the garrisons generally were Withdrawn,
while the colonies assumed fiscal indie
pendenoe and proceeded to lay, as, in spite
of all the recent billing and cooling, some OF
them persist in laying, protective duties on
British goods. But out Of the grave OF the
colonial system has arisen the vision OF impe-
rial, Anglo-Ssxon, or Englishspeaking Fed
Grafton The reduction, rhetorically styled
the annihilation, OF distance by steam and
wire, together with the prevalence OF change
and the still greater prevalence OF unrest
in the political and social sphere, have vet
imagination wildly at work, and nothing
seems too chimerical TO expect OF too ex-
trayagant to propose. In England, Fedora
tion has Just now received subtle accession
of strength from the secret misgivings Of
British home rulers, who think to make up
for the disintegration of the United King
dom by merging Great Britain and Ireland
In the smpler union Of q worldwide State.
Sir GEORGE GREY, besides his high dis
tinction and long experience. holds unique
position as one who, after serving the Crown
A. Colonial Governor, went into politics in
the colony and became its Prime Minister; (;
30 that he has seen the question thoroughly
from both sides. II any one Is qualified to
expound the policy Of federationism, 1t in
he; and special interest attaches to the dia-
Iogue on the Federation Of the English
speaking People between him aud Mr. JAMES
MILNE, which appears in the Contemporary
RcrieD for August.
Whom Is the federation to include What
Il to he its bondp What is to he its object
How is it to be constituted and governed
Such are the obvious questions which we
have to put to the oracle, and to which we
may fairly expect clear answers.
Is the federation Of English.speaking peo-
pie to include the sixty millions of people
who speak English in the United States
Sir GEORGE GREY, not without visible
effort, screws up his faith to the point Of
saying that it is, though apparently what he
contemplates is not 80 much union Of the
American republic with the United States
of Great Britain" as u diplomatic partner
ship, the objects OF which he fails to define
But he is aware of the existence of
thinkers who, when "a union between
the two great English speaking families is
proposed TO them, exclaim VISION Some
of them not only exclaim "Nison!' but do
their best, apparently with the approval OF
the British Government, TO perpetuate the
separation between the two branches OF the
family OH this continent; while c'r-
tain takers, IL not thinker. OF the
Imperial Federation League are always
harping OH the possibility Of war. or war
there Is not the slightest danger. But few,
on this side OF the Atlantic at all events,
will doubt that those who meet the project
of Anglo-American federation by exclaim-
ing VISION" are right; though IL they
are the principal character will be wanting
in Sir GEORGES drama. IL is not only tho
Atlantic that now rolls between England
and what were once her American colonies.
On this point Sir GEoRsE's informsnts seem
TO have told him too hattering a te!e. Sir
GEORGES own practical aspirations seem TO
be limited for the present tn a temporary
Handwriting OF the two powers, partners
that are to be- In the shape of an srbitra-
tion treaty for twenty-five years.
Again, Is India to be includedt On this
point Sir GEORGE Is tremulous. Gibraltar,
Malta, Cyprus, every part Of the world
which we hold" he says, would have and
quickly wish to have a due share in the
federation; and even India, Oriental
though she be, would have her wealth
aud spiendor recognized by membership"
II India were admitted to membership at
least il she were admitted to membership
on equal terms, her representatives would
immensely outnumber those OF all the other
members, including the United States, put
together, and instead OF being English
speaking and Anglo-Saxon, the league would
be Hindu. II India Is not to he included In
the federation, what is to lie done with her !
What il to be her relation TO the fedora
ton To what hands Is she TO be con
signed Surely not To those of a federal
assembly representing a number OF demOc-
rAcies scattered over the glObe, and totally
Ignorant of her people and her affairs. This
= a problem which federationlsts have not
yet solved. Yet IL would meet them on the
very threshold of their undertaking.
What IL to be the bond' A strong bond
there must be to eountervau geographical
difficulties which, all due allowance made
for railways, telegraphs, telephones fast
ll"SS VI bLcdiuu auu cNVh poSSiulg bdl'
looms, are most formidable, aud with which
are combined the greatest diversities OF
interest. Blood aud language are bonds
of sympathy; and language, il left ia
itself, will diffuse as widely as posi-,
bls the sentiments and aspirations OF
the race. But they have not proved
strong enough 10 prevent colonies from
adopting tariffs hostile to the mother ooun'
try. Nor are they likely to render people
- sas opp4site ends of the earth willing tC
be .raRged into each others qusrrels. II
steam ana wire have annihilAted distance,
tn y have not annihilated local interests,
So '!t.h the debate ON the American
tariff has clearly shown. Sir GEORGE
GREY evidently feels the serious char
acter OF the tariff difficulty, and he
tries 10 eonjure il away by predicting
that heneeforth revenue will be raised, not
by import duties, but by taxing the un
aarna1 inPFamanf Df land To this sOmf