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,

coiohial opinion the telegram of the Gov
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.
''it 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-
tion 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
~ oil
at these signs of the times. They cling
to the old ideal of the larger colonies a,
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-
ciousiy the efforts of some of the colonies.
like Canada to enter into closer CONNER
cia1 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 were 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 precedents 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 TO 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 well !
coined Sir Wilfrid Laurier's speech. They
bid fair TO welcome Lord Ranfurleys mes |
sage. pleased by its very holiness. 1t has I
taken for granted what clear-eyed observ- |
ers were Foreseeng as a consequence of |
the share of the colonial forces in the wa.
Alike in the colonies and in the mother
country the impulse toward imperial feo-
GRAFTON has been terminating since the
Queens jubilee in 1897 The shock Of the .
present war has quekened it into life.
From the offer of the colonial contingents
TO 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 and In
the colonial point of view
A year ago they spoke and wrote of i'm
perial federation as a desirable but dis
tant goal. Now in the warmth OF the new
light and the new enthusiasm, they be
iieve it to be nearer than probably it
really is. A council OF imperial defence.
in which all the self governing parts of
the empire should be represented, seems
sequence of the colonial participation in
the war. The cautious Lord Salisbury has
half recognized the wisdom of some such
action. The more ardent Mr.. Chambe rlain,
whose really just and generous ambition
is imperial federation, may be trusted to
press 1t forward. At the very least to ac-
cept Lord Ranfurleys telegram. as the
Government has accepted and pub ished it,
Is to recognize the right of the colonies 10
a voice in the determining of policies that
heir troops are fighting to advance.
To write in quasi-Irish fashion there are
many Irishmen, especially among ardent
who are grieved at the loss
If grievance. Their political grievances
against the Government and the people OF
Great Britain-like the distribution of
taxes and revenues between ireland and
he rest OF the kingdom, the failure to es-
ablish endowed Catholic university in
Ireland and the refusal to grant home rule
behind them all-haye been in no wise
essened, and are unlikely to be for many
Parliament. At first. when soldiers and
ailors were permitted TO wear the sham
ock on st. Patrick's Day, and when the
queen announced her visit to Ireland
ONE saw in these things an omen OF po-
itical changes in the relations of ireland
nd OF Great Britain and of new couciia-
DRY legislation. Now it is generally |
greed that no such results are likely to
ollow. Sooner or later. il the recent
hanges in local government in ireland
york well and if the Irish people rema n |
4 their present tranquil mood. furtGer ex-
eusions of local autonomy and measures
o promote various Irish interests may Y
ONE. These, however. are not matters /
Or Government absorbed in the war and l
n external policies and for a dying Par l
lament more intent upon its own dissoIu- {
ion and reelection than urOn aUght Ise I
On the other hand, Irishmen have lost a
grievance Like a sentimental t
,lk, they had loved and nursed it for I
ears. Like TOO sentimental folk some |
them seem really grieved AT the loss of d
More are puzzled and half disposed tC
link the new English enthusiasm for the
ish emblem and the Irish colors passing
1d insincere. They do appreciate. so far :
can be ascertained the granting of the
ing withheld privilege to Irish soldiers {
nd sailors to wear the shamrock They .
re not unmOved by the Queens visit to 4
Gland and very few of them-and they =,
the extremist sect of NatiOnalists-are '
kelly 20 follow Mr.. Dillon's example and
seek to turn il to their own political
vantage or to mar it by agitation. They -.
d. however and not altogether without q
ason look somewhat eoldly on the wear .
e of the shamrock and the display OF II
ish flags here in London last Saturday ( a.
For the first time in the memory OF this Sc
,ueration green fiags-but with the crown OF
ways above the ha p-dotted the streets
the city in the West End. in the East
nd. from Trafalgar Square to the re- 80
otest suburb, nine out OF ten persons n
ere wearing the shamrock Tor what :,
Used as SUCH. or. at the least a bit OF A.
zen ribbon. Horses had their touch of Of
cen on their brides. Alert shopmen ar 81