New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-03
COLONIAL CREATION.

Last nights Colonial Institute banquet in
London was one Of half dozen or more impos-
ing Jubilee demonstrations already made with
special reference to the British Colonies. Others
will follow. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday and Saturday next. The names Of the
colonies and their Prime Minister'S appear, in
deed, more frequently on the Jubilee programme
than do any others, so that II might almost be
deemed Colonial Jubilee This, as we have
hitherto remarked, Is eminently fitting. For,
apart from their supreme importance to the
empire. the colonies have another most potent
claim upon attention at this time. That is the
historical one. They are creation Of the Vic
torian reign. In the Elizabethan era the founda-
tons of colonial empire were laid, but these
were largely destroyed in the disastrous
Georgian era. 1t was reserved for the Victorian
reign to relay them broader and deeper than be-
fore, and to erect thereon the present stately
edifice; so that at the Great Queens Jubilee
there followed in her train the Ministers Of
eleven free, self-governing States all beneath
st. Georges Cross and owning unfaltering
fealty to Victoria their sovereign The crea-
ton Of those States has been one Of the great
est works and greatest glories of these sixty
years.
had not single self-governing colony. There
were three groups Of colonial possessions, gov
erned by the Crown. and chiefly badly governed.
Their total white population was about twelve
hundred thousand, half British and half not
only alien but hostile. All were in bad way.
The North American Colonies had just been
convulsed by war Of races Those In South
Africa were devastated by the Kafr war.
,-t;n fl,. inf htch Rr
ish vice and crime were poured. Nowhere was
there hint at selfgoverDment or even at fit
ness for it. 1t was a sorry outlook for a great
empire To any other than the Anglo-Saxon
race 1t would have been hopeless. But this,
prominently the coloniZng. State-building race,
was equal to the task. The bitter lessons OF
George Ills reign were not forgotten. Minis
tiers wiser than Lord North were in control Mt
Westminster. To-day the results Of sixty years
Of empire building stand revealed, unparalleled
In human history.
There are now eleven self-governng colonies
enjoying constitutional freedom and practical
independence, but united with the whole en-
pire by the personal tie Of the Crown and by
the potent bonds Of blood and speech, of interest
and affection. Not one Of them is as much sub
jcct to British control as are the various Ger
not one Of them could n considerable minority
in favor Of separation be mustered. 1t Is well
remembered that when the North American
Colonies were federated into the Dominion OF
Canada there was a widespread feeling that
that was the prelude to impending secession.
That was thirty years ago. To-day the Prime
Minister of the Dominion, the leader OF the
party that was suspected Of separatist tenden-
flofe
VOTED against British rule, makes himself con-
spicuous by his stalwart loyalty. If Sir Will
frid Laurler is rank Imperalist, who shall
question the adherence Of Canada to the Brit
ish Crown? Australia is now perfecting SIM
liar scheme of federation, which will doubt
less have a like result. One Of these days South
Africa will follow the example. But 1.-The little
rift within the lute' that will one day sever
any of these three dominions from the empire
is not yet to be perceived nor is 1t to be believed
that it exists or ever will appear so long as the
present imperial policy prevails.
In sixty years the political system of Great
Britain has been greatly developed. That Of the
colonial empire has been created. The popu-
lation of the United Kingdom has more than
doubled That Of the colonies has increased
nearly eightfold. 1t was twelve hundred thou
sand. 1t is now ninety-four hundred thousand
Canada alone has more than four times as many
as all the colonies had in 1887. Sixty years ago
Australia had yearly foreign shipping OF five
hundred thousand tons. Now she has eighteen
million tons 1t would be tedious to rehearse
statistics of all the colonies. They are all to |
the same effect There has been such growth In |
population, in commerce, in wealth, in political |
institutions, in ali the elements of civilization, |
as no other colonial empire has ever shown. |
And practically every item in the magnificent |
account Is to be credited to the Victorian reign.
Well may the Colonial Ministers be, after Her |
Majesty herself the cynosure Of every eye. and |
above all Others the favored and honored guests |
of ROYALTY and of the British nation.