During the week the public Press has been full of
the question of the so-called "Colonial offer," occasioned by the controversy carried on by Mr. Chamberlain and Lord Rosebery through the medium of letters to the Times. The most complete and satisfactory statement of the whole subject is, however, to be found in the cartoon published this week in Punch. There we see Dr. Primrose—in the shape of Lord Rosebery—asking a quite charming Miss Cornstalk whether it is true that she has made Joseph an offer. "Now, I want to know the facts. This fellow Joseph goes about telling everybody that you've proposed to him ." To this Miss Cornstalk replies : "Oh, what a story! Why, lie's been making up to me all the time, and I've given him no encouragement." Once again, in fact, Funds has in a flash of luciferous humour revealed to the country the exact political situation. Not only has no Colonial offer been made, but we note that in some quarters it is now stated that the Colonies ought to wait till they see how our Preference works, and how much it benefits them, and on such experience to make suggestions as to what can be done for us. We by no means resent such an attitude, but it is a very long way removed from the definite offer which we must either accept, or reject with fatal consequences to the Imperial connection.
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