New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-22

Hoo Imperial Federation Can BE
Worked ont an British Empire
London. July 3.

London. July D.
Captain Mahans popularity in England is
something more than the prestige Of success
full phrase maker The English people look
upon him as a foreigner who understands the
source Of their power and influence in the world.
and speaks with authority and philosophic dig
nifty on all questions of sea power If they dis
covered the modest, unassuming lecturer on
modern history of the Naval Academy at An
napos, when his writings were not appreciated
in his own country. he also found out much
about their potential resources of which they
We're ignorant If they introduced him to the
world as an expert on all problems Of balance OF
power on land and sea, he has magni1ed their
Importance in world politics as n maritime race
with an empire beyond seas dependent upon
naval supremacy. The relations between Cap
tain Mahan and English audiences ought to be
sympathetic when the obligations of friendship
and self-interest are mutual; and so they are.
He is always welcomed with peculiar fervor
when he is The guest of honor at English
public dinner and, while he Is not an orator
and has other grace than the quiet, Thought
full manner of college professor, every word
falling from his lips listened 10 with eagerness
rs the judgment Of oracle.
The Imperial Federation Defence Committee
has found in Captain Mahan man after its
own heart 1t is an organization of of
without dividing and quarrelng over the tariff
question it is striving to teach the nation ito
think imperially" about the navy and the col
ones Zone life one flag, one feet, one throne"
IS its motto. and Free Traders and Protection
lists find themselves hobnObbing comfortably
with another at tables. as though there
such disturbing thing as tariff any
where in operation. Its favorlte text is a SEN
tence Of a colonial statesman: Let there BE-
one navy under the rule of a single Admiralty
a navy in which the colonies shall be as much
interested as the mother country-whtch shall
be theirs as we'll as hers. and on which they
may all rely in time of danger" II seeks to
promote imperial unity by laying stress upon the
principle of power. which has determined
the operations of modern warfare. and it raises
the question Of distributing the burdens of naval
ornaments among the citizens OF the empire.
Captain Mahan in one of his recent articles has
stated the case for imperial federation in its
naval aspects and consequently the defence
committee has given him the seat OF honor at a
special feast. and Sir John Coomb has welcomed
him as missioner of the empire. who IS fight
ing it's battles a naval expert and an unpreJ-
udiced outsider The ways and means OF Sc
curing colonial support for navy under a
single Admiralty not discussed either by
the chairman or by the chief guest, but the
pointed out and the synpathies of the great
Republic for this movement for uniting the
British Empire were forcby expressed.
Captain Mahan subjected his popularity 20
severe test when he opened excellent speech
with a detailed reference TO those analogtes An
English audience is ordinarily impressed with
the sufflciency Of British experience for al
practical purposes. and it begins TO yawn and
fdget when an American begins to tell what
has happened in hts own country and 20 make
a direct application Of the analoges 10 the
matter IN hand. Captain Mahan invited dis
play Of restlessness when he started OF alb
rupty by announcing that the British Empire
was going through a history very similar TO
that which had been experienced In the United
States but he was treated with exceptional in
diligence and allowed TO comfort his English
auditors with the reflection that the Americans
had not carried out their scheme Of imperial
federation without having a lot OF trouble over
the details The analogies were explained with
charming ucidi-y Of style. The thirteen colo
MES had begun with differences OF origin.
toms and interests, and were separated one
from another by tealousies, and the hope of
bringing them together into anything like
operative union had seemed desperate even to
Washington. II a federated union finally
founded under pressure of circumstances, there
was period OF reaction when the New-EnS-
land States were disposed to separate from the
others and It not until the Civil War broke
out that there was anything like passion for
the great principle Of union. From a rapid
survey OF the development OF nationality with
a continental estate in North America. Captain
Mahan drew the moral that inexhaustible pa
thence is required when any great idea "a taken
up and carried out. and consequently that
broad-minded Englishmen must not be dis
couraged by difficulties and delays in so COM
pick enterprise that OF binding together
the worldwide possessions which are under
the British flag and owe allegiance TO the same
sovereign.
The audience at the Trocadero listened pa
tiently to these arguments from analogy. but
did not begin to cheer with heartness until
Captain Mahan assumed that the sentiment in
favor Of imperial federation would ultimately
sweep away all obstacles. The enthusiasm In
creased when, after declaring that Americans
were watching the imperial federation move
ment with sympathy. because they had passed
through n similar struggle for securing the
triumph of a great Idea. he expressed the belief
that the interests of the United States would
be promoted when all the English speaking
communities under the British flag we're so far
united be able to exert their influence as
one great nation. The applause became heartier
still when he asserted that it would be to the
interest. not only Of the American people, but
OF the world at large, TO have the federation OF
the British Empire carried out. Captain Mahan
did not hesitate 10 say that the Hague Tribunal
had always seemed to him rather premature
and that imperial federation apparently as the
sequel TO the American Union with its con-
tinental league OF States. was a source OF
greater hope for the world 1T is he remarked
AS the communities get larger and as svrn-