The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4590, 20 September 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1883.

The English Press is almost unanimous in expressing the opinion that the Secretary of State for the colonies'has not treated the matter of the petitions forwarded to the Home Government regarding annexation with that attention which its importance demands. The leading journals very justly remark that the subject is one 'requiring immediate attention, and is of serious consequence to the British Empire. Earl-Derby, in reply to the joint letter of the colonial Agents-General, apparently treated the matter with unbecoming indifference. He graciously admitted the care and ability displayed in the preparation of the historical statement presented, which, delicately put, meant that he had no doubt " the best side had been turned up.'' His Lordship, who was probably in a sarcastic mood when he perused the document, doubted whether so much ignorance prevailed in the colonies regarding the claims of Foreign Powers, as the Agents-General apprehended. This was a "nasty jar." The Minister certainly should' know as much of the affairs of the department he administers as anyone, and we may suppose he docs; but then, those unimportant functionaries, generally selected from the ranlw of tried politicians, with from a quarter to a half century's experience of colonial politics and 'their requirements—the Agents-General— must according to the rules of political pedantry be " kept under." It would appear to us that the impression exists in the British Governmental mind that Australasia is in the same helpless 'state that attended its " swaddling clothes" period of fifty years ago. We have the fact before us, however, that our progress and development justify our insistance on a recognition of our interests, where the existence of any national treaties may jeopardise them. We would not go so far as to say that if ! our banging to the tails of the. Mother Country's skirt be considered any yoke, it would .be as well that we endeavored to do for ourselyes ; but, anxious and eager as the colonies may be to continue that tie which has long bound the.Mother Country to her children, it mast be apparent that if the mother nog,-

lect her duty, the children are to a great extent left to look after themselves. The colonies certainly hare been fed and fostered with parental care by our old and beloved Fatherland; but, now that the matured offspring is likely to be of use to the parent country every care should be taken that no severance of those bonds of affection which have so long existed should be possible. The British Government may have theii. 1 hands full of troubles—doubtless tltey have, but if the union now existing between it and the colonies is worth continuing, surely the consideration of colonial requests deserves attention. The proposal of France to populate several Pacific islands is seriously alarmP to the Australasias generally, and to no colony, but one, more dangerous than to ourselves. We are threatened with the probability of having a flood of escapes of the most, villainous character, the dre|js of the French criminal population poured in upon us, and one would imagine that this in itself would , act as a sufficient incentive to the Home authorities, who, pretend to watch over us to interfere with a view to taking preventativemeasuresi^The business point of view seems to have been entirely forgotten, the- satisfaction combined/with union [from a commercial sense seems to have escaped the Secretary of State, the. enriching of the colonies by the annexation of the islands, and the consequent advantages derived by the Mother Country,.have apparently been of too little,- moment for his consideration. The fact of a too rapid progress, according to Old 1 World ideas, may have been the cause of the'abruptness with which the annexation proposals have been received. We would justshint, however, that joint action on the part of the colonies might, if judiciously taken, tend to effect the desired object, and without the least desire in a co.ck>a>whoop direction, we would re-echo-the remark of a leading London daily, to the effect that j the example o£ American separation should i warn England that colonial interests are worth attending to.