New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-06

tation and degradation of foreign dominion. 1t
was in this spirit that the Pilgrims after their
twelve years of exile in Holland, set out for
the Western lands. where their British instincts
and robust independence would have absolute
free play.
The statements made by Mr. Griffith and Mr..
Rees in the interview at the Colonial Office re-
vealed the eagerness Of these Welsh refugees
to emigrate to Canada. At least five hundred
of the settlers in Chubat had pledged themselves
to go to Canada If transportation could De
provided by the imperial government. AS many
fifteen hundred would probably take advan-
tage of systematic measures for transplanting
them to a more congenial home. and there
would be a remnant OF thousand in the
deserted Chubat Valley. Mr. Chamberlain, pre-
occupied with South African affairs, had as
sumed that the disconnected Welshmen were
anxious to go TO the Orange River Colony or
to the Transvaal and. the present master OF
the destinies of Crown colonies. he could have
arranged for their transportation TO those re-
gions. They were far too canny to think OF
exchanging the sterile Chubat Valley. with com
pulsory service for Argentine military parades,
for the high veldt of South Africa under mill
tary rule with feud slowly burning itself
out in guerilla operations. AS for the Canadian
immigration scheme the Colonial Secretary
could not establish the precedent of assisting
self-governing commemorative from the i'm
peraI treasury. The Welsh refugees in Pata-
gonia consequently will have to remain where
they are and take the risks OF recurring floods
and the certaintes OF Argentine CONSUMPTION
unless the Dominion Government ekes out pri-
vate subscription with a substantial money
grant, and undertakes to transplant the colony
from remote Patagonia to the Northwest range
OF untitled wheat lands.
The Pilgrim Fathers having made their first
where they could be at liberty to thrive and
prosper as men Of business, S well to
worship. to quote quaint Governor Bradford,
according TO We simplicitie Of .ye gospel and
to be ruled by we laws of Gods word" prohted
by their hard experience and shattered illusions
and started westward over the seas, the pioneer
republicans Of the great republic of the future
When they landed Plymouth Rock they
tabiished a strictly republican colony. and while
the conditions modified during the next
decade by successive migrations to Massachu-
sets, the pioneer expedition impaired a per
manent republican impulse TO American life
The Welsh settlers, restless under the condi-
lions of political life in the little principally
thrty-hve years ago, sought an asylum in
Patagonia where they could live and prosper
by themselves under absolute home rule; but
after a strenuous conflict with nature and
harassing controversies with Spanish American
gauchos, they are seeking new heaven and
a new earth under the British Crown among
men Of their own race. Patagonia, with a
Spanish strain in the governing race. has not
been ideal commonwealth for them; yet in
the strenuousness of their struggle against un-
toward conditions and unsympathetic en-
vironment and in their determination to make
the best of their unhappy lot. they have re-
vealed many OF the finest and hardest quail
ties of the heroic Pilgrims I n. +.