The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-01
NEW ZEALAND'S BOLD STEP.
England Asked to Permit Colonies to
Help Decide imperial Affairs

ernor OF New Zealand to Mr.. Chamberlain
promises to strengthen the rising impulse
toward imperial federation New Zealand
has been, probably. the boldest Of all the
colonies in experiments with social re-
forms. and now it is leading them again
in unmistakable suggestion that, sharing
as they have in the defence of The empire
in South Africa, they should share also in
its decisions as TO imperial affairs. Sir
Wilfrid Laurier. in his speech in defence
of the war and Canada's part in it, the
other day at Ottawa, indeed limited as
much We give the mother country our
assistance" it was easy to read between
the lines as the cable brought them hither'
1T should call US into its imperial coun-
ellis"
Lord Ranfurley however. speaking for
the Government of New Zealand, and
doubtless. for public opinion behind it, has
gone much further. His colony has we'll
nigh entered those councils. The people
Of New Zealand. runs the message, wish
TO express their endorsement Of the posi-
ton taken up by the Imperial Government
declining to allow the intervention OF any
foreign power in the settlement to be ar
rived at with the Transvaal Republic and
the Orange Free State and not to assent
to either State being independent.
New Zealand will support to the last the
mother country as far as lies in their
power in maintaining that position.
There are some Englishmen, especially
of the elder generation, who look askance
at these signs Of the times. They cling
to the old ideal of the larger colonies as
self-governing communities, busy with
their domestic affairs, content with their
own autonomy. They have watched the
growth of the imperial impulse question:
! ingly. They have noted a little ungra-
ciously the efforts OF some Of the colonies,
like Canada. to enter into closer CONNER
cial relations with the mother country
They think they see dangerous precedents
in some Of the provisions of the pending
constitution for the Australian federation.
Already they are threatening objection to
it when it comes before Parliament after
| Easter They we're less moved than the
rest Of their countrymen when the colonies
spontaneously despatched their contin-
; gents to South Africa. In that too, there
were dangerous presidents, since the colo
/ MES were under no legal obligations TO
| share in the wars OF the mother country.
| To the great majority of Englishmen OF
/ all ranks. it is safe 70 say. these feelings
/ are strange They will risk many legal
/ presidents rather than that Parliament
and the mother country should show a
quibbling and irritating disposition over
the Australian constitution. They wei
coined Sir WHfrid Laurier's speech. Ihey
bid fair to welcome Lord Ranfurley mes
sage pleased by its very bOidness. IL mas
taken for granted what clear-eyed observ-
ers were Toreseeiug as a consequence oil
the share Of the colonial forces in the va.
Alike in the colonies and in the mother
country. the impulse toward imperial tes-
Grafton has been terminating since the
7 Queens Jubilee in 1897 The shock OF the
/ present war has quickened it into life.
From the offer of the colonial cuntlngents
/ 10 New Zealand's frank entrance into the
/ councils of the empire. event upon event
has made Englishmen suddenly conscious
| Of the gradual change in their own ana In
/ the colonial point of view
A year ago they spoke and wrote OF i'm
perial federation as a desirable but dis
/ fant goal. Now, in the warmth Of the new
light and the new enthusiasm, they be
/ iieve il TO be nearer than probably i
/ really is. A council OF imperial defence
7 in which all the self governing parts O
the empire should be represented, seems
10 many an inevitable and imm ediate con-
sequence OF the colonial participation II
I the war The cautious Lord Salisbury ma
hall recognized the wisdom of some Suci
action. The more ardent Mr.. Chamberlain
whose really just and generous ambit-o
! is imperial federation, may be trusted t
press 1t forward At the very least to &C
cept Lord Raufurley's telegram. as th
Government has accepted and pub ished il
is to recognize the right Of the colonies e
a voice in the determining OF policies ina
their troops are fighting to advance.
To write in quasi-Irish fashion, there ar
many Irishmeu, especially among arden
Nationalists. who are grieyed at the los
of a grievance. Their political grievance
against the Government and the peop-e C
Great Britain-like the distribution O
taxes and revenues between ireland an
the rest of the kingdom. the failure to IS
tablish an endowed Catholic university II
ireland and the refusal to grant home rul
behind them all--have been in no wis
lessened and are unlikely to be for man
a Parliament At first. when soldiers an
sailors were permitted TO wear the sham
rock on st. Patricks Day. and when III
Queen announced her visit 10 ireland
some saw in these things an omen OF pc
Iitical changes in the relations Of lrelan
and OF Great Britain and Of new couclia
tory legislation. Now il is general
agreed that no such results are likely {
follow Sooner or later il the recen
changes in local government i'm irclln
work well and il the Irish people rema
in their present tranquil mood, furtIer eN
tensions OF local autonomy and measure
10 promote various irish interests ma
come These however are not matter
for a Government absorbed in the war an
in external policies and for a dying Par
lament more intent upon its own dissoiu
ton and reelection than upon aught else
On the other hand. Irishmeu have lost
sentimental grievance. Like "a sentimental
folk. they had loved and rursed it 70
Years. Like too sentimental folk. som
of them seem really grieved al the loss O
it, More are puzzled and half disposed e.
think the new English enthusiasm for Tn
Irish emblem and the Irish colors passin.
and iusiucere They do appreciate so IA
as can be asCcrtained the granting Of h
long withheld privilege TO Irish soldier
and sailors to wear the shamrock. The
are not unmoyed by the Queens visit &
ireland. and very few OF them-aud the
! OF the extremist sect Of NaJiOnalists-ar
likely TO follow Mr.. Dillou'5 example an
10 seek to turn il to their own politics
| advantage. or TO mar il by agitation. Inc
did however. and not altogether Wlthou
reason look somewhat COldly ON the wear
ing of The shamrock and the display q
Irish flags here i'm London last Saturday
For the first time in the memory OF thI
generation green fiags-but with the crow
always above the hsrp-dotted the streets
In the city. in the West End, in he Eas
End from Trafalgar Square TO the re
hottest suburb. nine out OF ten person
we're wearing the shamrock Tor Wla
passed as SUCH. or. az the least. a bid q
green ribbon. Horses had their touch g
--... IN tb.ir brides Iprt shDUm4u TT