THE ALL=RED CABLE. A New Bond of Empire.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 123, 8 November 1902, Page 8

THE ALL=RED CABLE. A New Bond of Empire.

WE desire to offer our hearty congiatulations to Sir Joseph Ward upon the completion of that great Imperial undertaking — the AllBed Cable. He has earned all the kudos we oan give him, for ever since he has been Postmaster-General he has been enthusiastic m his advocacy of this great work, and has contributed his full share of zeal, activity, and skilful negotiation to remove the difficulties which impeded the way, and bring the scheme to successful fruition. Like Sir Julius Vogel, he was quick to discern its potentialities m strengthening the Imperial connexion, and, with characteristic steadfastness of aim he has laboured to achieve bis object. ♦ • • Peace hath her victories no less renowned than war," and this is one* of them. There is no stunning noise of sackbut and psaltery to glorify the event— no whacking of drums, and no resounding cheers from excited citizens in the streets — but when the history of tibese times comes to be written long (hence, in the cold light of ascertained results, it will probably be found that this all-British cable drew the seansundered Empire more closely together than even the passionate outburst of patriotism enkindled by the South African war. • • • That was a transitorj excitement. This is a permanent joining of hands. The British Empire has engirdled itself with a cincture of steel It is a tie stronger than adamant, and pulsating with life and the constant inber-ohange of thought between ldndred peoples. The parent State and her daughter-colonies are co-partners in this Imperial enterprise — a State-owned cable. Its first effect will be, by lowering the rates of 3s a word between England and the Antipodes (formerly they were 10s 2d a word), and by reducing them proportionately for press messages, to bring us into closer personal touch. Canada will be practically nearer to us than Australia is now, and the interchange of ideas, the diffusion of news of each other, must bring about closei unity • • • And, who shall say that successful cooperation between the Mother Country and her colonies in one great Imperial service will not pave the way for other combined undertakings on their part m the common interest ? It links them together, at any rate Preferential trade relations will follow more easily because of it. Thus, gradually, and by sure degrees, we shall march steadily on to the destined goal of a true Imperial Federation. Mr. Seddon has done the State large service in that direction already — no colonial statesman more so Sir Joseph Ward on his part, ha® exerted himself no less determinedly and unsparingly. These services of their's will be gratefully remembered by posterity # ♦ • There is yet much to be done to maJce this All-Red Cable yield its amplest results Sir Joseph Ward has set his heart upon sixpenny cables from end to end of the Empire Why not ? He

set. lu& heart upon a universal penny pos*t It seemed M&ioiiaiy enough when first mooted. But, ifc is now a trite, common-place fact witliin the bounds of the Empire. We see nothing essentially insuperable about the sixpenny cable idea. Quite the contrary. The glittering fancies of to-day are the solid achievements of to-morrow. Let Sir Joseph strive masterfully for the sixpenny cable. We look forward to throwing our ca,p m the air in honour of his success in winning it He has got his eye upon it. And he is tenacious of purpose, too