The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1893.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3258, 16 May 1893, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1893.

Enual and e*act justtce to all men, , Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religioul or

political,

Tub pageant last week in cor.nection with the formal opening of the Imperial Institute of Great Main, the Colonies and India was doubtless the most brilliant and suggestion of any of the number which have from time to time, taken place i:i the great metropolis. Her Majesty, Royal and Indian Princes, statesmen, ambassadors, the political representatives of the colonies and detachments of the forces embodied for their protection were included in the series of grand processions, which numbered in all 200,000 of the elite of the Great British Empire. The idea of the Institute was the outcome of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 188 G. The suggestion came from the Prince of Wales who recognised the great advantage which would accrue from a permanent exhibition in the capital of the natural products, manufactures, and art of each division of tho Empire. The funds for the erection of the magnificent building and the endowment of the Institute, were raised by grants from several Colonial Governments and public subscriptions, It was quite right and proper that tho Institute should have been launched on its career of usefulness by as impressive a ceremony as possible from a spectacular point ot view. An object lesson has been afforded to all who witnessed the ceremonials, and this will be repeated by the great illustrated papers which circulate in amy corner of the Empire. The magnificent spectacle cannot fail to attract attention, and except in the minds of the dullards there will naturally arise the question; Why did such a large number of those who are greatest by birth, station and intellect think it worth while to take part in the ceremony 1 Some, no doubt, were there mainly because they can appreciate the advantage which such an exhibition of resources will prove to commerce. The majority, however, although not ignoring the solid advantages had higher reasons to give for their presence. They felt that such an exhibition could not fail, to impress the visitor with the greatness of the Empire to which it is his privilege to belong. Who, if whilst walking from Court to Court, reflects on the events in the history of his country which have added one by one these almost innumerable territories to the Empire, he cannot help feeling pride ill his race, Where this feeling permeates all grades of a people there is little danger of their nation decaying. Who m passing through the Indian Court will be able to overlook the events which have made that vast territory with its 250 millions nf inhabiants, subjects to the British Crown. To turn from the cast to the west, of some seventeen colonies we find that eight became ours by conquest from Spain or France, and the remainder by colonisation. There are the United States which, had it not been for the blundering of the Government, would no doubt be part of the Empire to-day. The Dominion of Canada stands forth as evidenco of the pluck, industry and enterprise of our race, Then come the Australian colonies, which have grown up in a more prosaic manner than have our Indian Empire and our West Indian possessions, New Zealand, it is true, has had to conquor the native race which occupied the Islands before the advent of the colonists, All these cojonies may be said to have been founded and grown up to their present stage during the reign of the aged Queen, who stood the other day, supported by her two sons, to tell the assembled multitude" The establishment of the Institute was a symbol of the unity of the Empire, and would be the means of effecting a closer bond with the colonies "—a prophecy which will no doubt be fulfilled, The hearty cheering which greeted the representatives of the colonies is evidence that there is a very warm feeling towards colonists in the breasts of the English people, and that feeling is fully reciprocated, With this for a basis, in conjunction with the solid advantages which would accrue to both Mother Country and her off-shoots, the realisation of the aspiration of Hor Majesty should not be long delayed.