New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-30
IMPERIAL TOPICS.

Business will be attended to- though the
coronation is postponed. So the colonial prime
ministers of the British Empire viii to-day
begin their conference in London. This con-
ference is one of the features of the coronation
season long ago arranged for. 1t had no direct
connection with or dependence upon the cOronal
ceremonies but was set for this time as mat
ter OF convenience to the colonial ministers,
who would be in London to the King
crowned. 1t is q matter in which the King and
his Secretary of State for the Colonies have
taken deep and vital interest, and which has
generally been regarded as of paramount i'm
portance from a practical and political point OF
view. 1t is well. therefore, that ii is to pro-
coed as arranged, just as though the coronation
had actually taken place
The list of topics which are to be discussed is
an instructive one To the remnant of true
Cobdenites it must seem unspeakably depress-
ing. THE trail of the Serpent Is over ii all
1t is instinct with recognized Imperialism and
scarcely yelled protectonism. AS formulated
by the Colonial Office, the topics are most gen
eral and comprehensive in terms. In what way
they will be practically interpreted and dis
cussed by the conference it is easy to see from
the suggestions Of the various colonies. Thus
New-Zealand wants to consider scheme under
which the colonies will give rebates of duty on
British made goods carried in British ships and
Great Britain will give corresponding rebates
on colonial products which are now taxed.
That would mean discriminating duties in a
form most odious to free traders. Australia
also hints at preferential tariffs, while Canada
has actually established them. There was
time when Golden told his followers that the
rising of the sun was not more certain than
the speedy conversion of all the world to free
trade. Yet as a matter of fact practically all
the world outside Of England has remained
protectionist including Englands own colonies.
Instead Of converting her colonies to free trade,
the mother country now bids fair to be con-
verted by them back to protection
Equally conspicuous and emphatic is that
other abomination of the Cobdenite imperial
ism. New-Zealand suggests an imperial re-
serve of army and navy for imperial uses at
colonial expense Natal and the Cape want an
imperial citizenship law, under which aliens
naturalized in any part of the empire will be
naturalized in and for all parts. Australia
moves for an imperial court of appeal and other
acts more closely uniting all parts of the en-
pire. In all such matters Canada is most i'm
perialist of all. Surely to the Little Eng
lander the discussion of such matters, with
view to their practical adoption into the British
| constitution, must be gall and wormwood Yet
| it is idle to wonder at such a development Of
| British policy 1t is simply keeping up with
| the times. Sir Vincent Caillard has recently
| pointed out that while once free trade was I'M
doubleday the best policy for Great Britain, and
gave her an enormous advantage over her in
dustrlal and commercial rivals, that time is now
| past and with it that advantage has passed
away. Mr.. Chamberlain and these Wideawala
colonial statesmen are not living In the mast
nor upon theories. They are living and acting
in the present upon the most practical of things
what wonder that their imperial conference is
to deal with practical topics of the present day?