The Yorkshire Evening News, a newspaper which has been recently
acquired by the Liberals, published on Wednesday a very striking and timely letter from Lord Rosebery. After wishing the paper success, Lord Roaebery recommends as its best objects the advocacy of common-sense Liberalism and the maintenance of "the true and liberal conception of Empire—the free union of free peoples tinder the Crown "- as opposed to "a mechanical bond of jarring commercial interests chafed and irritated by the friction of an unnatural tariff." That is a definition of Empire which we have often given in these pages, and are glad to see so concisely stated, and with the weight and authority which Lord Rosebeiy brings to the treatment of all Imperial problems. Some day the growth of population in the free nations of the Empire will render them fit for union with the Mother-country on equal terms. That day, however, is distant, and till it comes we had far better not worry the Colonies with impracticable proposals, but maintain the existing system, which, however imperfect in theory, secures perfect liberty to the Britains oversea, and at the same time prevents disruption. Till the Empire is ready for a closer bond we need feel no anxiety as to severance if we safeguard the common citizen- ship. That is the essential on which future ties must be based. In this context we may briefly note the candid and sensible remarks on the Colonial Conference made by Sir Edward Grey in his speech at the Eighty Club on Wednesday night. The Colonies, he said, should be warned that, if a Colonial Conference took place next year before an Election had been held, its deliberations on the Fiscal question were bound to be such as could not represent the truth in the mind of the electors of this country. Ho also observed that if the Conference were free and unfettered, he would not be surprised if one of the things it did was to pass a resolution condemning the introduction of Chinese labour into South Africa.
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