ABSTRACT
Commercial considerations determined the attitude of the Little Englanders and commercial considerations animate the Federationists. The colonies could understand why England's conception of her coinniercial and industrial interests might stand in the way of federation; but the appeal to a book principle which they neither understand nor appreciate served only to irritate. The important point is that commercial federation seems, to a large and a growing section of the English electorate, to be an end great enough and worthy enough to lead to a partial reconsideration of a $25 aller policy. The German and Belgian treaties, against which the colonies for nearly half a century had raged in vain, were denounced and the way towards commercial federation of the empire was opened up. Commercial federation by means of improved and cheaper freights and communications! This proposal is not in the grand manner, but it is practicable.
