The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1890. UNITY OF THE EMPIRE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2022, 20 March 1890, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1890. UNITY OF THE EMPIRE.

At present it is a case of “ Ask and thou shall receive” so far as the colonies are concerned with regard to the Mother Country. English statesmen are evidently in a terrible state or mind, for foar th© colomos will separate from England, arid hence all the noise over the question of Federation. They think that if they can persuade the colonies to federate with England, under one Imperial Parliament, they will keep the Empire together, but that if something of this sort is not done disintegration will follow as a natural consequence. The condition of Canada at present seems to indicate that separation is well within the bounds of possibilities 'PU/v.n - ~i- I • /N 4 *

Ihere is at present in Canada a yery large portion of the people well disposed towards severing from England and federating with the United States, but in our opinion this is no criterion of the disposition of the Australian colonies towards the Mother Country. Canada is only separated by a river' from the United States, and both countries are at a disadvantage in being under different Governments. Canada, although its area is larger than that of the United States, has only a population of about 6,000 000 while over 60,000,000 inhabit ’the other side of the river. This must ' point to two things in the eyes of 1 Canadians : Ist, that the States under ' a Republican forrn of government i

have outstripped them in the race of progress; 2nd, that to federate with ao progressive and so populous a nation must be to their advantage It is evident that these facts must exercise great influence on the minds of progressive Canadians, and when we know that in addition to this almost whole provinces are populated by people of French extraction, who have no sympathy with England, and who do not even speak the English language, we can realise the weakness of the bonds by which the Dominion is bound to the Mother Country. This has_ been made manifest frequently during the last few years, and recent events denote that the position is getting more critical yearly. It would appear, too, that English Canadians are doing their best to foment discord and discontent amongst the French. Proposals have recently been made to prevent the French language being taught or spoken, and it has been said in Parliament that the Protestants would take up arms to drive the French Catholics out of the country. We have also seen that religious bigotry is becoming rampant there lately. This has arisen out of the following circumstances:— A long time ago—we forget when—a property belonging to the Jesuits was confiscated. Last year, however, both the State and Dominion Parliaments voted back the property to the Jesuits, and ther were reinstated in it. It was, so far as we remember now, worth several hundreds of thousands of pounds. The granting of it has excited the indignation of the ultra-Protestant portion of Canadians, and hence the religious bitterness. There is one thing which weighs heavily with the French Canadians in the question of separation. At present they have the administration of education in their own hands, and their schools are supported by State funds. If they were to separate from England and join the United States they would lose this privilege. But if they are to be threatened with being shot down and driven out of the country, as it would appear they have been lately, it is only reasonable to suppose that they will not endure it always. There can be no doubt hut that the United States will be glad to welcome them into the Union at any moment. The progressive Yankee has for many years been easting longing eyes on Canada. He sees a vast field for his enterprise there, and he is anxious to break down the barriers which stand in his way. For loyal and true English Canadians to quarrel with their French neighbors is therefore madness, and nothing could be more inimical to the continuance of the Union of England and Canada,

No such causes for separation exist in Australia. Here, unlike Canada, we have no powerful nation to federate with. The whole population is practically British, and so long as the Imperial Government does not interfere with us we are all, and shall continue so, thoroughly loyal. A few years back several measures passed by Colonial Parliaments were vetoed at Home, but now we are told that it is the intention to allow the veto to fall into disuse. This practically sets us as free from the influence of the English Government as if we had separated. Nothing now binds us to England except the Governor, but after the recent action of South Australia in insisting on being consulted in such appointments we may well be satisfied with leaving that as it is at present. A divorce bill passed by the New South Wales Parliament was vetoed at Home; now the Victorian Divorce Bill has received the Boyal assent without hesitation. It is evident from these facts that we are practically a free people, and we ought to take care that we remain so. We ought to remain loyal and true to England; we may want her assistance, and we ihave nothing to gain by separation. Any Federation,- except such as exists at present, would result in irritation, and by and by separation, and therefore we are of opinion that the best friends of the Unity of the Empire are those who resist any change in our existing relations.