The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-06-20
u.pDIE TALKS OF HIS TRAv-
&c OVER BRITISH coLoNl-
AL POSSESSIONS.
s "canada for Canadians" He
sue Is the Spirit That Is Manifest
Observation-Disclosures Boer War
,v,e in Vain, as South African En-
osh Let Natives Rule.

p was asked:
what general impression is strong
IN volr mind after visiting Can
~ australia and South Africa? What
+bo future of the British empire?"
"Na can none of us speak for the
s..,,ro he replied. ''But what strikes
Of nresent is that colonial loyalty
- n,orpIy a surface sentiment. When
hnsiness interests and loyalty clash,
:, l. business interest that wins. Tar
isf reform will never tighten the bonds
- onnire. for the reason that the
oo1opies are not prepared to give any
hing They will take any advantage
aIodIv hut they will make no sacri-
flee.
Boer War Fought in Vain.
"Tbe flag and the throne stir GER
4oir emotion, for they are the ties
with home, but the empire arouses no
enthusiasm at all. In South Africa,
for instance, l found all the English
roonIe with large interests rejoicing
that Miners Transvaal Imperialism
had been shunted, and the manage
ment of affairs put into the hands of
the sensible, level-headed Dutch. For
all the difference the war has made, it
might never have been fought.
In Canada Canada for the Canadi-
ans is the cry Nothing about Cana
ia for the empire! In Australia there
is the same spirit They are angry at
the very idea of their affairs being
managed for the benefit of anyone but
themselves.
In Australia was naturally delight
ed to find that the cry of socialism
frightens no one, though they are well
on the way toward the naturalization
of industries The workingmen see
that protection and wage boards are
mere makeshifts. They have been
carried as far as they will go, and they
do not go far enough. Private owner
ship of land and private enterprise in
the production of necessaries are
doomed.
People are asking why the new in
terstate railway to connect North
Queensland with South Australia
should not be built by the government
concerned. Private contractors offer
to build it if they are given land all
along the line. Twenty years ago that
was, thought to be the only plan of get
ting such a railway built. Now the
idea arouses great opposition.
Chinese Labor in Japan.
Even in Japan I found many evil
dences of labor ferment. Industrial
ism is beginning to pinch. The peas
ants went into factories or became
miners just because they were told to.
They had the habit of obedience. But
now, although the factories I saw were
quite as good as ours, they are feeling
the difference between wage slavery
and their former pleasant, contented
life on the land. Japan has gone
ahead too quickly. There is trouble
brewing"
one amusing example of the new
spirit in Japan Mr.. Hardie gave in his
feSounding Doric, with big laugh.
ArallWay contractor brought 500 labor
ers from China. There was a great
outcry. The government was urged to
sehd them back. But in view of the
position of the Japanese in California
ana British Columbia it could hardly
10 this. So Japan has it's Chinese la
por question, too!
Effects of Rule in India.
AS to India, the labor leader was
lauch impressed by the condition of
Ie people in native states compared
WIN those under direct British rule
lit intends to urge that a small COM
mission should be sent out to study
DniS comparison.
Inc native ruler is far more in
'ouch with those he rules than British
INITIALS can be. He is the father of
nis people. For example, they pay to
:. uAn by way of taxes a certain proper
hON ol their crop If it is a poor crop
b ' snare is small. When they suffer
ae suffers, too. 1t is the cast iron char
S S OF British taxation which weighs
@pOn Ihem. Unless the harvest Is q
~ .ai failure nothing is RENTED. To
~ native there lis nothing fatherly
machine.
u, Inc danger of Mohammedan and
bai nuoo lighting in the event Of India
sels ss allowed gradually to govern her.
l nore is, in my opinion, absurdly
TA IA They meet freely on pub
as ooules. They eat together. They
1oe e good friends. The caste system
NO NO. is rapidly weakening. India is by
rso means the hotbed OF religious and
At ha anlmosities which many people
!le imagine it to be-"
O., AXIS on English Politics.
Mud ana now, as to your immediate
Tn ' Lar. work. That's my program
nou, .oio Lose Rosebery has been de
tho eing socialism. Good! That clears
on;., ground. I heard talk OF Mr.. AS
snli+ Lor the premiership. That viii
b stis the Liberal party, and, dare say
Tow We get socialist ministry the
a lae will give us, as they usually do
mat We want. Well well IT.,