The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-11-29
LORD RosEBERYs DREAM.

4 wv AfAR AAAAAANs
Lori Rcseberry evidently feels that
old Bishop Berkeley was a true prophet.
His speech at his installation as lord
rector Of Glasgow University contained
recognition OF the westward course
cf empire as significant coming from a
man OF broad and philosophic mind like
Lord Rosebery. as It is extraordinary
coming frcm a serious European states
man. We need not agree with his view
of TIE accidental character OF the
American revolution in order TO appre-
ciate the essential truth underlying his
vision Of what might have been. and.
indeed. in one sense, as he plainly
enough foresees, is to be. Pitt instead
Of Townshend At the treasury bench
might nave delayed separation, but no
one incident was the cause. however
it may have been the occasion for the
break Nothing but impOssibly differ
ent character and spirit for that time
on both sides Of the Atlantic could
have kept the two branches Of the An
glo-Saxon race permanently under one
rule. It was the lesson of the revolu-
ton which taught England how TO dsal
successfully with colonies, and the un-
questioned loyalty Of Canada is a COM
para;ively recent growth. The tension
which eliminated at Lexington ante
dated the stamp act. 1t was mani
tested in colonial legislatures on every
trivial question Of prerogative Short
sighted colonial taxpayers were ready
to leave the frontiers open to invasion
rather than give an inch Of disputable
power to royal governor. It was
in Braddock's and Amherst's
armies. Proyincials were touchy and
suspicious. Each reflected the natural
temper Of the new and old civilizations. 1
So III one way or another the separa-
rion had to come. II it could have come
peacefully, without the bitter memory
of two wars which school boys were
taught to cherish. perhaps the present !
realization Of race solidarity and as
ISOLATION in the work Of civilization.
which can subsist along with generous
rivalry might have been seen long
before 1t is doubtful however, II the |
great development Of America could |
have been achieved under English rule. |
Would Napoleon have given the British |
room to expand beyond the Mississippi? |
Would he not rather have kept his |
treaty Of San Ildefonso and in time Of !
difficulty have given Louisiana back to |
Spain? Nor is it likely that any such |
growth Of industries and population. |
any such fusion of races as has made
America the partaker and beneficiary
Of the best thought and aspiration Of
the whole civilized world, would have
been possible under the domination Of
one Of the European powers. This was
the promised land to Europe Some
times the seekers for It have seemed
an aifliction rather than benefit, but
there can be little doubt that on the
whole this country owes much to the
stream Of cosmopolitan immigration.
which. notwithstanding the scum it left
IN cities. pushed on through its forests.
oeopled its plains, helped fight its bat
les ann added imneasurably to its
wealth.
Lord Rosebery's fancy Of a great
Anglo-Saxon commonwealth with an
American centre and British attach
nent. the historical shrine and Europe
IN outpost Of the world empire. is
iream. But, like most dreams. it is
ounded on elements Of fact, and per-