The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1901. THE UNITY OF THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 213, 14 September 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1901. THE UNITY OF THE EMPIRE.

Mis. Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, in a recent ekquent deliverance on the unity of the Empire, said:—l do not think that the world has ever seen anything more striking, more suggestive than the way in which all our colonies and dependencies have i come together, have moved with us in the great struggle which has been forced upon us, and aocording to their opportunity have pressed forward to our assistance. They have shown, at any rate, that they understand the meaning of the word Empire. It means privileges—great privileges—but it means responsibilities and obligations ; and they have shown that they, at all events, are not unwilling to fulfil them. " Touch us," the Empire may now say, "in any part, and th% whole Empire will thrill." In this quarre', wh'ch in one sense is also Canada's, only in the sense in which she is part of the Empire, she has sent us of her best; she has sent us soldiers who were unsurpassed in valour and efficiency to stand shoulder to shoulder beside the army of Great Britain and beside the battalions of South Africa and Australasia. The union of the Empire has been sealed in blood, When I look back to the events of the last two years I see that there is compensation even for b'tter war. I look back upon the last two years with satisfaction, because it has shown with what spontaneous eagerness our children—our brothers across the seas moved to the impulse of a common unity. Ido not know whether we are always to rely upon this spontaneous energy, or whether some more complete organisation may be evolved from the, experience of the war. Sir Wilfrid Laurier is reported to have eaid that if we look onward to a closer union, in which the colonies should recognise with us these common obligations as a matter almost of legal responsibility—that if we want their help—we must call them to our councils. Well, of one thing I am convinced: that in ,tbis movement, which I think is progress-1 iDg, nothing could be more fatal than to be premature. The movement; is] ono which must come from our colonies, and must not be unduly pressed upon' them by us. But if they desire this closer connection, if they are willing to assist us, not merely with their arms, but also with their counsel and advice, I believe there is nothing that the people of this country will more readily welcome. No one canforeeee thefuture; but it seems possible that in the times to come those who now help us may need our help, and if that period does arise, unless I mistake the temper and the spirit of my countrymen, that hel will be given, and given in no grudging spirit and in no stinted measure. But, sir, I am not quite certain whether the moral sympathy which we have had Ifro'm Canada and the colonies has not been even more valuable to us than the material help, however important that may have been. A most distinguished British statesman, a great personal friend of my own—although our political views are wide as tbe poles asunder—said the other day that we must look to the opinion of civilised Europe for the verdict of posterity upon

our' policy and our cause. I do not accept that view. I have a gr.'at respect for civilised Europe, but I do not think the opinion of civilised Europe j to-day is likely to be the verdict of posterity, and for my own p\rt I look with much greater confidence for the verdict of posterity to the unbiased sympathy of our greit colonies— to the freest people on the face of the globe—who have no selfish interest in thin matter, than I do to the uniDstrueVl prejudice and envy of foreign Dai i'ltis: who greedily swallow eveiy Ho ; that is foisted upon them by enemies abroad or traitors at home. We aie grateful to you for your support ami for your sympathy. We are isolatad • • isolated among the great nations of the world—but as long as we have ouv relations, our household, around us, w« are not alone. As one of your spates man has said, our isolation is splendid, as long as you share it. Sir, upon us, upon this time-worn country of ourn, there still falls the heaviest burden of Empire, and our peop'e are not unworthy. They are not le;s willing to bear this burden, and to make the necessary sacrifices to maintain the Empire, than were their sneestorj to gain it. But if the time should come that the sceptre of dominion should bo too heavy for our hands, then we look to you—we look to tbe young nations, the heirs oE the future —those to whom it is given to carry on to distant ages the glory of the British flag and th« pride of the British dominion—we look to you to appreciate our position, to approve our policy, and to give us your help, your assistance, to enable us to meet the taunts of our enemies with the cheers of our children. If you do this—and you will do it—you will give us the right to say, in the words of one of your Canadian poets: Laugh, little folk, for joy to think that Eng' land's tun lias set! Bat fame laughs louder than you all, and Freedom louder yet. Take back your spite-eDgendered sneer, your conscript-nurtured scorn; Hark to the cry that comes from east, outheralding the morn 1 And westward, beyond the sunset, £nvn the race that you revile. From continent to continent, it Bounds from isle to isle, And by the broad St. Lawrence, from beneath

the Southern Cross, We, we are England's, count with us, before you count her loss 1