AN IMPERIAL VISION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 45, 15 August 1911, Page 8

AN IMPERIAL VISION.

OF MIGHT AND UNITY. A New ZeaJauder sends the following to the London Staaidtwd: "In the midst of all this rejoicing, this solemn celebration of the crowning of a King, I, a stranger from overseas, feel glad and yet sad. I am overwhelmed. The significance of Empire has been growing on me. A complacent, self-contained, selfeomfd'ent colonial I was when I arrived; and now I am abashed and disn.ayed—andl yet glad, very glad, ibecause ui it. lam abashed because of the inadequacy of my conception beforehand of the might of Empire, the Dominion of England, the pulsing vitality preserved here in antique eeremoaiy and formal ritual. I am dismayed at my own ignorance—my a.wful ignorance of the fuil significance and weight and importance which attaches to this British ICmpire. And yet, overseas, I have deemed myself an Imperialist. If I was one then, I am thrice one now. These two days in London have made many Imperialists genuine, intelligent Imperialists. We colonials have been learning things, and humWy do we acknowledge it. Our materialistic and utilitarian ideas have been rebuked; we have been shown that in ceremonial, in ritual, there is a use arid a purpose. We acknowledge the viTtue, in fact, of ancient usages, of established customs. We are made aware that colonial newness, dash, and flippancy are transcended by ancient custom, established order, and deep-rooted feeling not always visible. Though a little sad at the ignorance we have been immersed in, we are glad—joyously glad—at this season to acknowledge our fault and acclaim our redemption. Not only in these two (Lays have you made a King—an Emperor of a world-wide oversea Dominion—but you have made also thrice-strengtli-ened Imperialists of the thousands upon thousands of colonials who have been in our midst. We have now a vision of Imperial might and unity, a vision of a great national heart still pulsing with vigorous and manly strength, a vision of a glorious future, when we colonials, we overseas dominions, may grow up wound you in strength and cleanly vigor—proud to be of your blood, of your stock. Now, indeed, we are Imperialists, and cry with meaning and intent: 'God Save the King; God Bless our Empire.'"