The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-31
Coronation Gathering Has Resulted in
Colonial Boom which May BE
Important to Us.
POSSIBILITIES FoRESHADOWED
OUR PROSPERITY DEPENDS ON MAR
KET FOR Our FARM PRODUCTS.
Canada and Australia Now Pressing
for PriviIeges-sOuth Africa in
Time VIII Also Compete.
corresponaenee Of the Indianapolis Journal

Correspondence OF the indianapolis Journal.
LONDON, Aug Their Is foreshad-
owed in the minds Of British statesmen
to-day one Of the greatest revolutions in
trade the world has ever seen and one
which more deeply concerns the American
people than would even a war with a world
power.
During the past year the people Of the
United States sold over $5OO,OOO,OO worth of
agricultu1a al products to the people of Eng
land, Scotland. Ireland and Wales. The
people of Canada. Australasia and South
Africa now propose to absorb this market
20 themselves, not all at once it is true,
but as rapidly and completely as possible.
Theoretically they could 90 it and even
from a practical standpoint the competition
they are undoubtedly capable of will fall
each succeeding year OF the future with
Increasing heaviness upon American farm
ers, hence upon the entire nation.
The American trade will readjust itself,
and new markets will be found at home
and abroad. The consuming power Of all
the peoples of the earth will increase, and
all will md employment for their energies
a. before, but no doubt exists in the minds
Of those who have looked at this question
from the standpoint of the English people
at home and abroad in the colonies that
within reasonable time the mother country
will get largely from her children the food
for which she is row so dependent upon
strangers.
The United States will shortly reach
the flood tide of her export trade to the
United Kingdom, If. indeed. she has not
done so already" recently declared a
colonial premier e%xultantly as he rapidly
sketched in bold and telling strokes the
International situation. Then he added,
snow comes our turn"
This was before the colonial conference
In London had ended and at a time when
British statesmen were wavering in their
long-heId position of free trade with all the
world. AT the last moment these statesmen
recovered their equilibrium, stiffened them
selves against the flood of argument and
p the still greater food of imperial sentiment
which at one time threatened TO
them. In consequence, the immediate re-
suits OF this colonial conference just ended
are of more real value to the people of the
United States as warnings and suggestions
than to colonial Englishmen, in whom it
merely arouses hope and gives rise to
creams OF future greatness.
A COLONIAL CONFERENCE.
With promises of reciprocity in the fu-
ture, many expressions OF good will and
expressed hopes for better relations, the
colonial premiers parted with the adroit
English minister, Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain
Before separating. however, the premiers
adopted resolutions which seem TO fore
shadow what is not unlikely to come to
pass as the colonies grow FESTIVE under i'm
periaI rule and demand something besides
4 sentiment in return for their loyalty, so
practically and materially expressed on
many occasions.
With the adjournment of this colonial
conference has passed for a time at least
a real and serious danger which threatened
the foreign trade OF the United States A
close reciprocal union between England and
her undeveloped agricultural colonial area.
such union being based upon exclusive
trade and tariff privileges. would soon re-
suit in a remarkable readjustnent of in
~ternational commerce. especially where the
United States was concerned This is rec
ognized as a fact by England's leading
statesmen
Such a change, Is OF course, boldly cham
pioned by the colonial governments of the
English empire. Their premiers have been
on the ground in England for weeks past
nrousing public sentiment in their favor.
with glowing word pictures. brilliant
prophecies and compelling appeals to Brit
- pdlEAOlASnl dnO lBCAAd PIAQC NAN AdNO
been spreading the propaganda among the
people. TO the effect that the time had
come FOR Englishmen the world about to
stand together against the foreigner. be
he OF the same tongue or another.
on returning 70 their homes the colonial
sremiers will submit the situation to the
colonial pariiaments and the latter will be
given the opportunity OF adopting the pres
ent Canadian policy. which consists Of IA
vors to English manufacturers without
waiting for trade concessions from Eng
land. The colonies will be asked to con-
tribute I'm cash and men TO the imperial
navy. to give English goods preferential
rates at the colonial custom houses and to
otherwise express in practical way a SUI
preme desire for British trade in preference
% that Of other countries.
In return for these substantial favors
England offers at present only vague hopes
Of future trade concessions. a larger repre-
sentation of imperial power in the shape OF
more generous recognition OF the colonies
as naval bases and other recognitions. some
OF them carrying with them practical bene-
fits and others merely furnishing fuel to
feed the flame of imperial pride. Canada
has already given the mother country near
~ everything that could be asked and has
received little in return. but the hope of
Canada lies in British subsidies for direct
lines OF Canadian steamers concessions in
favor OF her grain, and there is good reason
for Sir Wiifrid Laurier TO express the hope
20 his people on his return that these things
may come in time.
NOT FREE TRADE ENTIRELY.
II must be remembered that England Is
rot really - FRYE trade country. The wines
Q. Australia pay a heavy import duty. and
yet the trade Is rapidly increasing. Aus
tralian wines are now 20 be found every
where. and with special tariff concessions
they would become a staple article in the
English market. the trade amounting 10
millions OF dollars annually. IL is from
the grain duties that Canada looks with
longing eyes. Here Is an opportunity for
securing what she has long asked. When
y there was no grain tax II seemed a hope
Iess task 10 prevail upon the English gov