The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4565, 22 August 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1883.

Colonial development is one of the wonders of the present age, and we are not all surprised to observe that the leading colonial weekly (the Australasian) has devoted an article to the method of carrying out the Government by Great Britain of her colonies. The old world notions of Home politicians * will not fit in with either the exigencies of the case, or the progress of this new world. The rapid advancement of colonies, not only from a business point of view ; the development of their wonderful resources, which is much more speedy than any movement taking place on the other side of the line ; and last, but by no means least, the many different races and their respective interests, which go to make up the total of our colonies, demand that tho prejudices formed iv connection with Home Government should not in any way interfere with the management of colonial affairs. The Australian colonies and New Zealand are certainly blessed with self-government to a very great extent, and it is to be hoped that the protection of the British flag, undei' which they have so long prospered, will never be a thing of the past. We have not the least idea of urging the advisableness of cutting the painter, nor would we like to see English controller the colonies in any way weakened, but as the child grows up the necessity for parental supervision decreases, and as the offspring reach maturity they are—to a very great exteut —capable of almost entirely managing their own affairs. As the paper named by us,. in referring, to the English Government, puts it "They must perceive that this group of colonies, when federated, must of necessity become the centre of a southern dominion which must quickly and permanently influence the future of Great Britain herself." Were tbe extent, population} and re«

sources of the colonies placed in a proper light before those controllers of Home matters connected with as, the chances are that our importance would not be underestimated; but when onr affairs have to be dealt with by the Imperial Parliament or the authorities of the Home Government, the dense and gross ignorance which the greater number of the members of the one and the other display and act under, militates very materially against a chance of justice being meted out to us. The most recent case of interference with Australasian interests by the British Government was their action with regard to Pacific annexation, proposed, and almost unanimously concurred in, by the whole of the Southern Colonies ; the fiat of a Secretary of State, in fact, is too heavy when placed in the balance with the expressed desire of a number of the vertebral parts of the Empire. We venture to predict that the annexation of the Pacific Isles which has been agitated will ere long become an accomplished fact, and their alliance to England will tend to add strength to that already powerful nation. It does appear that the almost united voice of the colonists should have more force than it has.