The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-26
Chamberlain'S Strong Plea
for Unity.
England is Grateful For Her
Colonies Loyalty.
Something That Would Be OF Enor-
nous Advantage to Colonies.


Canadian minister of agriculture; Gen.
eral Gallwey, Admiral McClintock and
many Canadians were present last night
mt the dinner given 20 Joseph Chamberlain
by the Canada club. Mr.. Chamberlain
replied to toast, proposed by the chair
man of the club TO the health OF Lord
Aberdeen, in which the names OF Mr..
Chamberlain and DIR. Montagu Were
coupled.
The colonial secretary. In replying. said
that he felt honored TO be associated with
Dr. Montagu, and that it was great pleas.
ure to meet the many representatives of
the great America which stands first
among the kindred nations forming the
British empire. He had visited Canada,
and had met many Of its leading states
men. notably Sir John Macdonald, whose
guiding idea IL was 10 maintain Intact the
local Independence OF Canada in close
alliance with the mother country.
AT times he did not have easy times.
There were many prominent men who
had once assumed that it was the mani
fest destiny OF Canada TO be absorbed into
the great republic on it's southern frontier.
Mr.. Chamberlain continued; THAT
was the opinion 1t is ancient contro.
versy. and / viii not refer 10 IL now cx'
cept 20 mark the contrast between the
doubt and hesitation then and the deter
mination now of every son OF Canada To
maintain the local constitution in his
special identity and at the same time 10
draw closer the bonds which unite him
with the great parent state. The recent
isolation that seemed 10 threaten MS evoked
from all the colonies, especially from Can.
ada, nm outburst OF loyalty and affection.
"The shadow OF war did not darken the
horizon, and 10 none was She shadow
more ominous than to our fellow citizens
of Canada Yet, though IL IL had hap
pened, it would have been borne in the
first instance by Canada with no hesita.
.tion, the people and parliament Of Can.
ada saying that, although the matter did
not affect directly their interests. IL af.
fected the honor OF the British empire, and
they would make common cause with us,
and were prepared. shoulder to shoulder,
20 bear with us all that might arise.
Imperial Federation Favored.
s'In the Dominion parliament resolu-
.tion was passed by acclamation, repeated
nllusion being made TO the opportunity
which every community in the empire
was bound TO seize, aud the hope was ex-
pressed that something would DC done "a
bring us nearer. We share that hope
and ask colonial and imperial statesmen
to transform these high sentiments into
practical results" 81
Mr.. Chamberlain then reviewed tho
growth of the feeling for imperial fedora
ton, and he said: although experience
has shown that the final realization Of our
hopes of federation Is u matter of such vast
magnitude and great complication that IL
cannot be undertaken ut the present time,
it does not follow on that account thaS we
should give up our aspirations.
1--WE may approach this desirable con-
summation by process OF gradual de-
velopment. We may endeavor To estab-
lish some common interests and common
obligations, to deal with which it is
natural that some sort of representative
authority should grow up. The greatest
obligation Is the imperial defense. Tho
greatest interest Is the imperial trade
The former must be reached through the
latter, as was the case in the creation of
the German empire"
Remarking thnt it was natural that
Canada should take the initiative, Mr.
Chamberlain cited the resolution OF the
Ottawa conference In favor OF customs
arrangement between Great Britain and
the colonies. and also the resolution in
favor OF an ad yalurcm duty on foreign
imports Although he foresaw very
serious dislocation OF trade with Eng
land II such n proposal became effective,
MIR. Chamberlain asserted that the pro-
posal mcrited respectful consideration.
Mr. Chambrr.an called particular Mt
tent.on 10 Lord Ripon's statement that an
arrangement crcating customs union.
~.
the aggregate customs revenue might be
equitahly proportional among the prlnci-
pal communities, would In principle be-
free from ohjcutioa. Mr. Chamberlain re-
gardcd this asan alternative, and not, as T.
was generally regarded an impossible al.
Tentative.
Benefits Would Accrue 10 Colonies.
Its advantages 10 the colonies wpuld
be SO enormous" he continued, that It
appears 20 me that the colonies themselves
will be bound to give such suggestion
their careful consideration" Going into
details, he said
'In such "a general free trade arrange.
ment IL Is quite clear that exceptions must
be made In the case OF articles such as
tobacco and spirits, which are chiefly
taxed for revenue purposes. IL we are TO
ntht tNti AAc 81 FuNtsN pfokTcsS III hNCn u
direction, protection must disappear, and
the only duties must be revenue duties,
not protective duties In tho sense OF pro.
tecting the Industries OF one portion of the
empire against the industries OF another.
II cannot help thinking that IL coun.
ell of representatives Of the whole empire
should b. called to consider such an ar.
rnnaement. although the subject would
present enormous difficulties. still, with
che existing good will and the ultimate
goal In view, something like working
agreement would bc reached, aud free
traders, even II they had 60 abandon their
principles 90 some extent, must remember
che enormous gnin thut would compensate
for the loss OF our dealings with foreign
countries"
Mr.. Chamberlain added that he spoke
Cor himself alone. but that the subject
was 30 important that lac desired TO pro.
woke discussion, above all In the colo.