The Hastings Standard Published Daily FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1897. THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 351, 18 June 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily

FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1897. THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, Vor the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The contingent of Premiers who are now the guests of the British nation in their great metropolis are being treated with becoming distinction. The Premiers on their part are responding with sentiments of gushing loyalty, which is all very nice and appropriate ; but beneath all the pomp and show and gush there is to be seen the true reason why the Premiers of the self-governing colonies are now in England. The motive is the consolidation of the British Empire, to bind together the outposts of Her Majesty's dominions, and at a time when the hearts of the people are profoundly stirred by loyalty and patriotism the hour for the consolidation has surely arrived. But it is evident that the statesmen of England recognise that the welding of the Empire is not to be done wholly by sentiment. Sentiment must play a large part in the scheme, but sentiment alone is insufficient. There must be material advantages and mutual benefits in addition to the sentimental feelings of patriotism. Material benefits are obtainable by a revision of the commercial relations now existing between the Mother Country and the colonies. In our trade relations with Great Britain we stand on the same footing as foreigners: we have no advantages or benefits which other nations do not enjoy, and although a part of the British dominions we are treated as foreign communities. This does not suggest parental affection or regard. If we are to be part and parcel of the Great Empire, and we hope it will ever be so, then we have a right to expect that we shall stand in our trade relation with England in abetter position than Germany and other foreign countries. And so must we place the Mother Country first. We

must not tax British goods to the same exteut as we do the wares of foreigners. There must be preferential treatment on both sides, and that is practically what the Mother Country intends to propose and what the colonies wish to have. Lord Balfour of Burleigh, the Secretary for Scotland, said very truly that England and her colonies were one people. This is fine in theory and sentiment, but not actually so in material affairs. The colonies so far as their trade is concerned are not one with England. The colonies stand equal \uith the Japs and Chinese : England makes no discrimination; she allows every foreigner the same privileges, and the colonies are classed as foreigners. Yet England and her colonies are one people. The Premier of Canada, Mr Lauricr, voiced the true meaning of Empire when he said that the bond between England and the colonies must either be closed up or broken. The bond is now composed wholly of sentiment, and sentiment may be powerful either way; fortunately it is just now powerfully set towards the Empire. It might as easily turn the other way, and then there would be a snapping of the ligament. The bond must be closed up, and that can be done by preferential treatment. The Mother must place her daughters before others, they must have the first light to enter her house, and so must the daughters extend the same special regard aud preferential treatment to the parent. This preferential reciprocity may not be easy of accomplishment. It may take years to mature ; but at any rate a start should be made as soon as possible to bring it about. Canada has already set a brilliant example in framing her tariff with a preferential concession to the other component parts of the Empire. We cannot agree with Mr Seddon that subsidising steamers is the aurest method of obtaining success. Subsidies have a corrupting influence and should be given very rarely, and then only after very careful consideration. Colonial expansion and Empire consolidation are absolutely essential to Britain's prosperity is the Imperialist sentiment of the Duke of Devonshire, and it is the sentiment that is now about to take concrete shape. The events of the last year or two have clearly indicated that Great Britain, with her immense Empire beyond the seas, is the envy of the other nations. And she has been reminded on more than one occasion that it is possible for these envious powers to combine for the purpose of stripping her of some of her territory. The " splendid isolation" of England may be very nice as a patriotic sentiment, but a consolidated Empire is better. The real meaning of the presence of the Colonial Premiers in England is the federation of the Empire and its defence. Imperial federation and Imperial defence will be, if they are not so already, the burning question for Britishers throughout Her Majesty's dominions, aud who can say that the federation and defence will not become actualities ?