The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-07

condition Of Federal cohesion. Physical
continuity Is the real secret OF the stability
OF the American Union, and no substitute
for II Ia derivable from the frequency and
speed OF transmarine communication. 1t is
true that modern science has annihilated
time and space for some purposes. but not
for tho purpose OF cffecung political assimi-
lation and national HON ogeneity. tbs doubt
less fact that 1t now takes no longer to get
to Westminster from the most distant
British colony than at the time Of
the union OF England and Scotland 1t
took to get from Shetland, or per-
haps from Caithness, to London. But
from Caithness a man could walk to Vest
minister and even from the islands he could
get there without crossing or going near
any foreign territory. Between Caithness
and Westminster there was indisputably a
good deal OF traditional ignorance and dis
like, but it was the kind OF Ignorance and
dislike which might in time die out. and
which largely has died out. 1t was wholly
different feeling from that OF young de-
tendency, which at the outset is inclined TO
love the mother country, but which daily
feels more and moro sharply any sign OF In
feriority to the parent state. Prof. FREE.
NAN believes that for a while the representa-
tives OF @ distant dependency would think 1t
grand to sit at Westminster; but presently,
as the spirit OF equality grew. they would he
not unlikely to ask for some more central
place, and then might even refuse to stir
GU. OF their own territory.
1t would be recognized In other words,
that the sentiment OF national unity needs
FREEMAN is convinced that States which
have so much, both political and physical, to
keep them asunder, as have the British de-
Tendencies. cannot be kept together forever
by sentiment only. particularly az that
sentiment /. for the mother country and not
for one another. Many Canadians profess
ardent affection for England, but there is no
evidence that their hearts are stirred by any
such feeling for Australia or South Africa.
1t is possible that some OF the United States
may not care much for one another, but In
their case physical continuity produces
multitude Of interests and relations common
to all Far from assuming that the confed-
Grafton OF countries SO distant as are
the colonies o: Great Britain would tend
to the advance Of a common national unity
among them, Prof. FREEMAN doubts wheth.
crit would not be likely to bring out some
hidden tendencies to dlsunion. One ground
for such an expectation is that Federal
body would NEEDLE far more with colonial
concerns than does the present Colonial
Office, and although each State would have
a voice in it, each State would be liable to be
outvoted on the matters which are dearest
to its heart. The tendencies to disruption
resulting from clashing interests and feel
ings, which have always constituted the
weak side OF confederation. are likely to
show themselves far more strongly in a con-
federation OF scattered and distant men,
b-rs, than when the States form q continu-
Gus territory.
Prof. FREEMAN closes with protest against
Transforming the Parliament Of Great
Britain into mere State Legislature. He
is not anxious that his country should exer.
els, lordshin over other lands. English
speaking or otherwise. But neither would
he wish his country to be ruled over by any
, other power, even power in which she her
self had voice. Speaking for himself, he
declares that II 1t is proposed that the great
! historic assembly which King EDWARD I.
called into being in 1875 shall keep its six
hundreith anniversary by sinking into a
legislature Of q canton OF a Britannia con.
federation, he for his part shall be driven,
although much against the grain. to turn
Jingo and sing Rule Britannia