The Westport Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1869.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 583, 20 November 1869, Page 2

The Westport Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1869.

The feelings of excitement engendered in the minds of our usually tranquil population by the late election contests having by this time subsided, we can turn our thoughts from our own microcosm and consider questions affecting the interests of the outer world. Among those questions none can be more interesting, and certainly none can be more fraught with importance, than that which involves the relations existing and to exist' between the Mother Country and her Colonies. More than once we have referred to what we have considered the coldblooded policy pursued by the Colonial Office and the Parliament in reference to New Zealand. Whether the Government of New Zealand or the people of New Zealand have been right altogether or wrong altogether

is a matter of opinion. But whether they have been right or wrong is not an element in discussing the great question which now seems to be imminent between the British Empire and her great and valuable colonies. It may bo conceded that in many respects the proceedings of the Colonial Legislatures have been at times characterised by a want of that discretion and reason which we couhl wish to recognise in deliberative assemblies. Many a time and oft they have exhibited an absence of determination, and a lack of fixity of principle. Still these have been faults natural to young communities scarcely accustomed to so called responsible government, and faults too not without parallel, even in the history of the oldest of countries. But }-et making all allowance for the kind of short comings alluded to, there is much to entitle the Colonies to a far greater degree of consideration than at present is extended to them. It ia difficult to rocolvoall llofarooa which operate on the Imperial Government, the Imperial Parliament, and the British people in reference to the Colonies. Any one would have anticipated that the huge stream of emigration from Britain, and the consequent increase in almost every day correspondence between the Old Country and the Colonies, would have resulted in an intensification of friendly relations. But the contrary effect seems to have been produced. Years ago England was ready enough to lend her strong hand to assist her Colonies, and to protect them either against foreign aggression or internal wars. We need not recur to the history of the last war, or to the armies and fleets then sent to defend England's colonial possessions. We need hardly refer to the manner in which the Indian mutiny was put down, or, coming to recent times, the millions spent to rescue from King Theodore the handful of English captives. Now, however, all seems changed. The increase of wealth, and the increased love of wealth which is its proverbial concomitant, possibly have had their effect. Then again in these daysof reform —dare we say of improvement? —the " counting-house and the manufactory" seem regarded as the chosen academies of statesmanship and political learning. When valuable properties like Deptford Dockyard are thrown away—when Sheerness, with ali its traditional glories, is given up, and economy condescends to rccutting quill pens in the public offices and in the flying squadron cutting the bluejackets off even their rations of water, we can hardly be astonished at a mere money cost operating to induce our English Government to risk the loss of her colonies.

We are led especially to indulge in these general observations because we consider it desirable, nay necessary, to call attention to Earl Granville's opinion upon the proposed Colonial conference in London. His Lordship has pronounced that such a conference is unnecessary. Possibly from the Colonial Secretary's point of view it may so appear. But we think we can advance abundant reason to establish the value of the proposed action. We do not believe that at heart the people of England are as callous as their rulers, or as timeserving as a great portion of the English Press is. We think that Lord Granville agrees with the Times that this movement marks an epoch in the history of the country, and hence he would wish to stifle it. This we think his Lordship will scarcely succeed in doing, but the. reasons for that opinion we must reserve for a future occasion.