The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1888. The Imperial Blunder.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3070, 3 December 1888, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1888. The Imperial Blunder.

During tho past month' the Colonial Office in London has teen "innkin« : history," and November, 1888| wilibe memorable as ihe time, when new relations were'entered into between Downiug-Btreet and the Colouieß. It is now generally conceded-that the opposition manifested by Sir Thomas Mclllroith to the appointment of Sir 11, A, Blake, was not justified and that the claim he put forward for Queensland to have a voico in the seleotion of a Governor could not "be sustained. In tbe days of Lord Palnlerston, the British Lion would havo displayed both teeth and claws at a pretension of this kind, but ju the present ocdasion the noble animal after a mild roar laid down and sub-, mitted to be stroked by a Colonial jackal, In tho days of Lord Palmerston England waa occasionally reproached as a nation of ehopkcepcra, but there wero then Imperial interests which could not bo lightly tampered with, The British shopkeepers now appear to be in the ascendant,'when Lord Knutsford virtually tcllsacolony, "we have picked you out the boat governor we have in stock, hut if you don't like the article we will change it for you," Lord Knutsford ought to have stood by Sir H/ A. Blako even if bis #n ' losß of office'was endangered. l'o tide tho Cabinet over a temporary difficulty ,'he : virtually waived a threat priiioiplo and lost, for. his party the respect of the Colonies, The feeling among right-minded colonists muafc be a profonnd regret that the old Lion issaiw teetli "and clrwb and will submit to be kicked by alittle radical premier ]fke Sir Thoinas. The whole affair has been a sorjes of blundet-s. Sir Thomas niado an unconstitutional demaud, and tho' Eng-' lish [ Cabinet while affirming the constitutional principle surrendered it 'mbmu, Tho consequence is that in Epg)and Lord {Jnntsford isdiscreditcd for having yielded to an ijndije iniluonce, and Queensland ; is mortified to discern that no gentleman or nobleman,possessing any self-re. spect is ambitions of the distinction of becoming jier governoi'. It is po longer an honor to be govornorof Queensland, it is simply a notoriety, and not only ■England but neighbouring Colonies' are pointing a linger, of scorn at the frog-like swelling whioh Queensland has indulged in. The. Colonies do not sympathise with tho. foolish claim to veto the appointment of a Governor which Queensland' preferred.; ■Wo j have too much party strife already, and we dp p,O desire to see our Governors irfiggfld.jntp.lt,, fl|o ,ijnfoi;r; tunate thing is that the Colonial.office has indirectly allowed Sir Thomas a yptp in much. the same ■ way' that a husband who .igdjgjjjntlv; refuses to believe that Ijff bettej* liaif wears the 1 breeks yet tacitly allows jthe termagant to havo her own. way. By and by England will realise the fact that the 1 pampering ?! the Colonies, which has gone on.for the p&st M is 8n absurdity. Colonials have been 'fret stimulated with a lavish distribution, of decorations, and it is these , newly made Jjnigbts who make all the' mischief, If Lord • Kputsfoi'd: learps a lesson from bis late: blunder,•• hei .'will put tjio Colonies on jvater aud stop ill the fuss "and : oopßense;

which has licwi iuti'ly- lavished over distinguished,. C'oloiiiaW. • Weitlier England nortlie. Colonies deairo separation, Tbe |ink s tliat now unites tlietn answers the purpose of l/otli, unid trn I lotig us this is the casu it is h palpable | übsHidity to disturb it, Kiidicnl preiliibvs are abominable nuisances on thim; o\vn dunghills, bullion the}' can tie kept out of any serious miiehief at lump, ami if Lord Knut'sford when the) 1 want (o crow in Downing-streel, would only bnlirui, u|id and give them a limply rap on the knuckles, tliey would lie equally harmless lira?. /