AMERICA PUZZLED

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 26, 1 April 1915, Page 1 (Supplement)

AMERICA PUZZLED

THE "FEARFUL AND WONDERFUL BRITISH EMPIRE." " Wherever Germany and France, with their highly-centralised and logically' wrought Governments, have contemplated the fabric known as the British Empire they have smiled smiles of disdain/' says a striking article in the "St. Louis Republic.'' •'lf ever there was an instance 01 'muddlinr. along" through decades, and even centuries, taking things for gram. Ed, avoiding issues, extemporising expedients and working always for the object immediately in view, with scant reference to any principle of outward consistency, it is supplied by the history of the making of the British Lm- ° "T\vf is a strange gathering together of Crown Colonies, Dominions, Protectorates, a Commonwealth, Depen-dencies-and India. India is directly ruled by the Crown. Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are governed under their own laws, but certain officials are appointed by the Crown. Canada and Australia are both self-governing, Imt the Senators in Canada are appointed oy the Governor-General, while those'of Australia are elected. There is a Secretary of State for India in the King's Cabinet. And all gradations 01 self-government may be found in the more 3 than ninety units of the British Emp re. . . , . "This fearful and wonderful fabric has no central body. There is no 'Bundesrath' or Imperial Council. No collective action of its units is possible. Hie relation to them of the Mother Country is illogical, ill-defined. To the foreiener accustomed to the federation ot the American States or the units ot the German Empire the Government looks-planlt.'-s and ineffective. _ -'Ail of which is preliminary to the observation that there is not at the present moment any more effective institution in the whole world of political fabric than the British Empire. A\ batever its machinery lacks appears to be supplied in spirit. The tie facts o its body are made up for by the umtj of its OUI. , , • ■ 1 Mint. ••The fact cannot be gainsaid tnnu England who does not begin to be as Sal r< Germany or as systematic as France in matters of government, has 11 v,?--b<-less the knack of making men step of their own free will In.die in £ P d once. Snehasthegieorkeep- , ; ,rve across the tumbling seas "und half a world, the undying bond iS in ime of strife to go to her aid. Che h the wi-dom to train and guide Se%wa,thy children of alien races and ven th" foes of yester-year, that be> pXthcir living bodies between Eng am and Finland's enemies. She has a tea - fullv muddled theory of Government ■ her practice of government In. Sdon/he deepest things in the soul