The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-26
Their Attitude During the Recent
Pleasing 20 the Mother Country.
CUSTOMS UNION URGED
BUT IMPERIAL FEDERATION de-
sCRIBED AS A HUGE UNDERTAKING.
Some Of the Disadvantages Of an Al
valorem Duty ON Imports Pointed
Out by the Secretary.


steveley Hill. Admiral McClintock. Sir Bart
lefrer Colmer and Messrs. w. Z. NJ. Tomlin-
son. S. Gedge and T. T. Bucknili. Q. c..
members OF Parliament. and many Cana
dians were present tonight at the dinner
given to Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain.
Secretary OF State for the Colonies. by the
Canada Club. Mr.. Chamberlain replied 10 q
toast proposed by the chairman OF the club
TO the health OF Lord Aberdeen. I'm which the
names OF Mr.. Chamberlain and DR.. Montague
were coupled. The Colonial Secretary was
given an enthusiastic reception as he arose
to reply.
He said he felt honored to be associated
with DR.. Montague, and that II was great
pleasure to meet the many representatives OF
the great America, which stands first among
the kindred nations forming the British en-
pire. He had visited Canada. and had met
many OF its leading statesmen. notably the
great Sir John Macdonald. that most i'm
perially-minded man. whose guiding idea 1t
was to maintain intact the local independ-
ence OF Canada IN close alliance with the
mother country. At times he did not have
easy work. There were many prominent
men on both sides OF the Atlantic who had
once assumed that 1t was the manifest des-
tiny OF Canada to be absorbed into the
great republic on its southern frontier.
(Cries of mo, neverr)
Mr Chamberlain continued: THAT was the
opinion. 1t is an ancient controversy, and
will not refer TO 1t now except to mark the
contrast between the doubt and the hesita-
ton then and the determination now OF
every son Of Canada to maintain the local
constitution i'm his special Identity and at
the same time TO draw closer the bonds
which unite him with the great parent state.
The recent isolation that seemed TO threaten
us evoked from all the colonies, especially
from Canada. an outburst OF loyalty and af-
fection that reverberated throughout the
world, which testifes a sentiment deeper
than words express. and which dispelled
the idea that such expression OF loyalty and
affection were superficial and would not bear
the test of serious conflict, so that IL war
TO her fate and the colonies would take care
OF themselves. The shadow OF war did
darken the horizon, and TO none was the
shadow more ominous than 10 our fellow
citizens OF Canada. This decision was en-
phasized by the debates in the Dominion
Parliament and the moral was summed up
il quoted as having said. From the British
people, one people, 10 the integrity OF the
right chord when he said: The empire OF
Great Britain is the common heritage OF all
ned S sonI Kinr5o ana nSt any rne spPsnage o. sas
to the same effect in the Dominion Parlta-
ment, and resolution was passed by ac-
she opportunipy Which every eomnnias af ia ia
the empire was bound to seize, and the hope
was expressed that something would be done
continued Mr.. Chamberlain, ''and ask you, is
this demonstration, this almost universal ex-
oy i0yay nt Oh all rans rns ae b2 10
colonial and imperial statesmen to transform
these high sentiments into practical re-
IMPERIAL FEDERATION.
Mr.. Chamberlain then reviewed the growth
OF the feeling for imperial federation. and he
said: although experience has shown that
the final realization of our hopes OF federa-
ton is a matter OF such vast magnitude and
great complication that 1t cannot be under
taken at the present time, II does not follow
that on that account We should give up our
aspirations II is only proof that we must
approach the goal differently. and not to try
TO do everything at once, but must seek the
line of least resistance. The boldest might
shrink appalled, before an attempt 10 create
new government for the British empire.
with large powers Of taxation and legislation
| over countries separated by thousands or
| miles Of seas. We may, however, approach
| this desirable consummation by process OK
| establish some common interests and COM
| mon obligations, 10 deal with which IL Is nat
ural that some sort Of representative author
| is the imperial defense The greatest inter-
| est is the imperial trade. The former must
be reached through The Ia later rs as was n,rs tne
| At first the Reichstag was convened 20 deal
with the commercial interests OF the Ger
| and political subjects and became the bond OK
unity and the basis or the empire"
ada ssUaa ate seai the II M
| lain cited the resolution OF the Ottawa con-
ference in favor Of customs arrangemens
also Mr.. McNeilrs resolution In the Cana
| dian Legislature on Tuesday. In favor OF an
ad Sog yaobsm re duty on fgreisn a,dns
OF trade with England II such a proposal be.
| came effective. Mr. Chamberlain asserted
| that the proposal merited respectful consid-
| Grafton.
This proposal" Mr.. chamberlainn, pro-
ceeded, would involve at least small duty
| on food and raw material, and would thus
| increase the cost of living and the pressure
| on the working classes. 1t would also tend
| to increase the cost OF production and would
| thereby prejudice US In competing with
! foreign countries in neutral markets. IL 10
useless for US 10 shut our eyes TO these facts-
In return. we should get a very small con-
| sideration in the shape OF preference. may
| he per cent, and perhaDs even 5 per cent,
| In competing with foreign manufacturers IN
the colonial markets This Is very starr,
seems in its present form impossible for M
| to adopt. am a pronounced free trader.
but at the same time i rot pedantic
that, IL sufficient advantages were offered.
L would consider a deviation from the strict
dogma But far sufficient quid pro
quo has been offered 10 induce England 10
| take certain loss and the possible risk in
| volved I'm reviewing altogether her present
commercial policy. The preference would be
much smaller In the case OF British goods
| imported into the colonies than In that OF
| colonial goods imported into Great Britaii-
| Ii Is still more important that our fore IN
trade Is so gigantic In proportion TO the
| foreign trade OF the colonies that the burden
| OF taxation would fall with much greater
! weight On the United Kingdom than on tho
colonies"
A CUSTOMS UNION.
Mr. Chamberlain then proceeded 10 invite
the colonies to continue their Efforts. and he
expressed the opinion that the Marquis Of
Ripon's dispatch TO the Governors OF tho
colonies on this subject In 1896 had not
closed the doors to more favorable pro-
posals which might be advanced In the
future. and he ca..ed particular attention
10 Lord Ripon's statement that an arrange
ment creating a customs union comprising
the whole empire. by which the aggregate
customs revenue might be equitabiy pro-
portioned among the principal communities.
| would In principle be free from objection.
Mr.. Chamberlain regarded this as an al
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