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Page 32
the Colonies, and the Empire also, such as is not at present in
existence, and which might fuller develop, by-and-by, into a most
powerful bond of union." Again, speaking of how this was to be
effected, he said: "A body would be required with legislative, and,
to some extent, administrative powers; in other words, you would
have a limited fiscal Parliament by the side of the British
Parliament and the various Colonial Parliaments. This small body,
which would have to be created, would perhaps be the germ of an
Imperial Federation afterwards." He thought those were most
remarkable, and striking words. If people would think the subject
out in a calm judicial, and fair spirit, they would see in it the
fulfilment of what would not only promote the best interests of the
British Empire, but would also be the handmaiden of civilization to
others as well, because in it there was no idea of aggrandisement.
He had recently made a most remarkable tour through this
interesting country, and since he landed in Cape Town, on the 24th
May, had seen a great deal of it. He had visited Kimberley, and
gone down in a bucket to see one of the diamond mines; he had
travelled to Vryburg, and across the treeless desert in the
south-western portion of the Transvaal to Klerksdorp; thence on to
Johannesburg and down the gold mines, and further on to Pretoria,
where he had an interview with President Kruger, and attended
meetings of the Volksraad. He had been 150 miles north of Pretoria,
and dwelt for a fortnight in the open veldt, without going near a
house, and had seen the Kafirs in their kraals. He had crossed the
Transvaal, through Heidelburg and Newcastle, in Natal, down to
Durban, he had visited Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown, and had now
returned to Cape Town. What he had seen of this great country had
astonished him, and he thought it had a vast future before it; but
it required to be governed in the most enlightened and satisfactory
manner, and he appealed to both races--Dutch and English--to
co-operate and unite in developing its wonderful resources. It was
by this way alone--by cordial co-operation and a generous feeling
towards one another, that this would be realized. He believed that
Imperial Federation would be the best solution of the difficulties
which had arisen. He had heard whispers of what was called
Republicanism. We worshipped words rather than things; but the
British Constitution, especially when it would be expanded by
Federation, would be practically a Republic with a Queen as
President. He would, therefore, appeal once more to the judgment of
thoughtful men to weigh the principles contended for, calmly,
wisely, and without prejudice or passion. The flippant, the
superficial, the thoughtlessly ambitious, and those who did not
take a fair, judicial, and comprehensive view of the great issues
involved in it to each portion of the Empire over which the British
Crown held sway, might deride and condemn it, but he, as one of its
most ardent pioneers and supporters, recommended it to all
colonists as well as to his countrymen at home, as the best
preservation of their commercial, social, and political interests
in the future, which they would lose altogether if they abandoned
it in favour of the disintegration of the British Empire. He had
studied this question for some years, and by a sort of instinct he
felt that it was the right thing to be brought about. He had
brought before them proofs that some distinguished men were already
feeling the desirability of some such thing being effected, and he
could not but help thinking that their ranks would be augmented by
other people of influence and power, who may hereafter be brought
to think seriously and carefully over this great question. He took
the opportunity himself, some three years ago, to put a letter in
the London _Times_ suggesting that as the question had now been
some years before the public, both in the Colonies and the Mother
Country, it would be very desirable indeed if a Royal Commission of
Inquiry were sent out, under distinguished auspices, for the
purpose of ascertaining the opinions of the various Colonies. This
could be carried out on parallel lines to the celebrated Commission
sent to Canada, and which resulted in the consolidation of the
Dominion. The obtaining of these opinions would be invaluable
evidence as to the consensus of feeling in the Colonies on the
subject. If the question was to be more than a dream, and became
one of practical politics, it would require all the Colonies to
express an opinion on the subject. He could not conceive that
anything could be more desirable than to take the evidence of
distinguished representative men on such a great National question.
Those were the views he expressed in the leading journal; they were
individual ideas, which did not yet appear to be acceptable, though
he could not help hoping that the day would arrive when some such
Royal Commission might be appointed, which would give an impetus to
the question--and, at all events, afford all those who took such a
deep interest in it an opportunity of seeing how far, in the
opinion of the various Colonies, such a change in the British
Constitution could be effected, to the entire satisfaction of all
concerned. There was no desire on the part of the Mother Country,
in propounding questions like this, to take any advantage of the
Colonies, or do anything which would not be for their benefit.
There was no hurry on the part of the Mother Country, which simply
asked the Colonies to help to govern and take part in the National
politics of the British Empire.
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