New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-16
IMPERIAL UNITY.
COLONIAL PROPOSALS FOR DIVIDING
EXPENSES OF THE BRITISH NAVY
CONFERENCE or PREMIERs.
London, June 3.

Mr. eaton WoOdville, the Neil-hHoWn HII1tary
painter. has painted picture which Is Intended
10 commemorate the Jubilee. 1t is large can.
vas entitled For Queen and Empire" 1t rep.
resents the mounted troops from the United
Kingdom. India and the colonies passing In re-
view before the Queens carriage, with Windsor
Castle in the background. There Horse
Guards and Highanders. sailors and Marines
turbancd Indians lr splendid uniforms Of blue
and yellow and colonial cavalry from Canada
Australia and So;th Africa. There are repre-
sentative files OF the military forces OF the En-
plre wheeling and marching. with the Queen and
various members OF the royal family In the GEN.
ire It Is an idealizatiop OF what Will be wit
messed during Jubilee week and is an ingenious
composition. full Of bright color and instinct
with action The picture has been sold for 700
guineas but is now on exhibition at the Graves
Galleries for the entertainment OF jubilee visit.
ors In London.
r. A popular painter has been quick 10 appre-
ciate the imperial significance Of the jubilee, the
colonies have had equal discernment. and are
offering practical evidence Of their loyalty and
devotion 20 the mother country. The Colonial
Fremiers they enter the capital begin to talk
about imperial federation with one accord. They
do not speak CT It q dream. but as practical
policy which can be carried out in the near fut-
CTc. CANADA mas pointed out oIf jbchh'N % UNIT
ing the cmpire-the adoption Of preferential
tariffs In favor OF the mother country and the
suggestion has been taken Up with enthusiasm
~ the commercial classes in England. From
Australia had already come proposal for colo.
Mai contribution to the expense Of maintaining
the Royal Navy and strengthening imperial de-
fences Cape Colony has seconded this sugges-
ten The Assembly has unanimously adopted
a resolution declaring thar the time has come
for that colony share IN the expense Of the
naval establishment and instructing the Pre-
mier to enter into regulations with the Home
Government for bringing about that result.
SOUTH AFRICAN OPINION
It was only eighteen months ago that the
Dutch element in South Africa driven 10 the
verge Of rebellion by the Jameson raid and the
German Emperor tempted IN an unguarded
moment TO express his sympathy for the Beers
The invasion of the Transyaal marked the Gull
mination Of long series II attempts on the
part OF ambitious colonial rtatesmen II set the
pecc for the Home Government The Rhodesian
theory was that the Colonial ONCE was behind
the times and needed to be dragged along in the
career of manifest destiny md imperial expan-
sion b. men Of action capable OF taking broad
views end forecastinS the forces Of Anglo-SaXon
civilization That theory was repeatedly acted
upon. and one enlargement NJ empire after an
other was forced upon the Colonial ONCE. Inc
invasion of the Transvaal was lawless act IN
defiance Of imperial treaties ana good faith. II
melted race war and imbittered the relations OF
England with her colonies and dependencies in
South Africa.
The people Of Cape Colony were loyal TO Mr..
Rhodes when he came to England ito face the
music" and to admit his full responsibility for
the earlier stages or the Jameson movement.
They welcomed him upon his return as a hero
whose services the empire ought 10 outweigh
a single error Of judgment in organizing cam
paign against the Transvaal. Then followed
practical demonstration Of the utility OF naval
ornaments and imperial defences. fleet was
sent TO Delagoa Bay, the garrison AT the cape
was reinforced, and liberal expenditures for i'm
peral defences were ordered. The Transvaai
Government was impressed by these measures,
and various concessions were made TO the Colo
NAL Office The Cape Legislature at once
pledged itself carry its rightful share OF those
imperial charges which other colonies have been
content to have the mother country bear alone.
The resolution passed by the Legislature is
hailed by the English press fresh evidence
Of the invigorating effect OF the jubilee prepare
tons in stimulating colonial loyalty. Imperial
federation seems close at hand wnen proposal
for a prefere initial tariff from Canada Is followed
almost Immediately by offer from South
Africa to share the burdens or the naval estab-
lishment.
The fact that loyalty was not the only motive
of this timely offer from the Cape is not lost
sight of by intelligent observers. The jubilee.
with it's imperial setting. has promoted good
feeling in South Africa as it has everywhere else
In the Empire. but Sir Gordon Sprigg would not
have been instructed to negotiate directly with
the home government on his subject OF coleman
responsibility for imperial charges If the recent
measures for strengthening the military defences
and making use Of naval ornaments had not ex-
cited the liveliest feeling satisfaction at the
Cape The dominant race South Africa after
the disaster Of Jamesons raid had profited by an
aggressive imperial policy, and Immediately II de-
sired TO be taxed for the maintenance OF the
navy The judlcious observer perceves at once
that when the colony is allowed to pay its share
of naval expenses IT will consider itself justified
in ordering and directing the use OF the fleet IN
that part Of the world such an observer is 'Ihs
ST. James's Gazette" which remarks that TX
the British Navy is TO go anywhere and do any
thing. 1t must only be efficient, but free to 80
81 the word OF command from the central au-
thorty'
THE AUSTRALIAN ARRANGEMENT.
In consequence of the colonial conference OF
1857 England agreed TO supply seven ships OF
war for service in Australian waters. and the
Australian colonies undertook to pay $1,000 a
year for ten years as a contribution TO their cost
and nearly $4500G0 annually toward their MAIN
terance when In commission. The Australian
principle would readily be accepted by Cape
Colony. Now that an object lesson in the value OF
naval ornaments in influencing the intractabIs
and unmanageablc Beers has been provided, the
colonists would be glad 10 have feet MAIN
tanned off the cape partly at their expense on tho
Australian plan IL they could keep it where they
want it and use IL AT times for their own political
purposes Whether II would be safe or prudeh'
for the hon,a goyerninent to accept on these