The great Intercolonial Conference was opened at Ottawa on Thursday,
the Governor-General of Canada taking the chair. The Conference, before beginning business, carried a warm address to the Queen, in which her Majesty is assured that those charged with the Administration of the Colonies vie with the Imperial advisers "in their desire to uphold the ancient Monarchy under which it is their happiness to live, and in doing their part to hand down to later genera- tions this great symbol of their union and their strength." That is well expressed, and very pleasant in meaning ; but we must wait to see what are the practical sug- gestions at which the delegates arrive. For the present it is only useful to notice that Canada, Australia, and South Africa think they have interests in common, and are pursuing them by direct intercommunication instead of through the Colonial Office in London. That may produce excellent results, and may also involve an unprecedented combined pressure upon the British Government. The point is to know exactly what the great Colonies want besides more cables, more steam lines, and freer communication generally. Ottawa, we observe, thinks itself, from its geographical position, the natural centre of intercolonial relations,—quite a new development. It is curious to watch how the new Powers of the world, just like the old Powers, cast eyes of longing upon the Asiatic trade.
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