The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-10-20


and outward adhesion of America is still
wanting, though the inward unity is, /
believe, an accomplished fact | cannot
separate these three branches; | cannot
leave America out OF any scheme for draw
ing closer together the links which bind
the English-speaking peoples.
For all practical purposes, federation is
now complete between the Colonies and the
Mother Country; such minor differences as
tariff walls immigration laws, and so forth
will gradually disappear Their import
ance even now is unduly exaggerated.
Federation also exists between England
and America, not outwardly perhaps, but
inwardly. The movement has been working
so silently and so insensbly that people
do not recognize it on the surfce, but it is
none the less real. The forces of the future
are i'll its favor, and the irresistible
impulses. of blood and language are gradu-
ally drawing America and England close
together. The tiooing tide is with us"
When | speak of England, | also include
the Colonies, for there is real bond
OF sympathy between them, and the
great Anglo-SaXon Republic on the other
side OF the Atlantic. In any import
ant step America looks to England for
appreciation, and is always proud when it
is bestowed | do not mean officially, but
actually. 1t is in the oreat heart of the
people, and not in foreign office notes, that
which links together the two great divi-
sions Of the nglish-speaking race. This
feeling is only natural for we all of It's
COLONIES, Mother Country and America
have common gloricS and traditions. Amer
lea, | repeat, has friendly feeling toward
us, ANA TINS sentiments is, | am certain
warmly reciprcctted in England and the
Colonies. I'm strengthening it lies the true
policy of the tulurc-thc policy which will
make the .Nnglo-SaXon race a guarantee for
the continued peace and progress Of man
kind. There is Il distinct advance Of friend
illness on the part, Of America, and this
movement is going on simultaneously with
the growth Of the colonial idea OF fedora
ton 1t is growing with its growth. and
it is part and parcel Of the same great idea
What will hest give voice to this Scnti-
mcnt: There is one form in which the
idea Of federation may take practical shape,
and that is in the direction OF arbitration
OF recent wears the question of arbitration
between England and the Colonies, and
England and the United States has advan-
ccd with giant strides. To my mind. in
stead Of Il permanent court of arbitration
between England and America. a. contcm-
plated in the resolutions of the House of
Commons and elsewhere, the following
seems the more excellent way Let us
agree-Amcrica, the Mother Country, and
the Colonies, for the position of the Colon
les must be clearly recognized in any
movement Of this kind-let us agree that
whenever we wish for common law, or
some authoritative decision on some veXed
question affecting the whole of the English
speaking peoples, that delegates should be
appointed to represent all sides, and meet
to consider the matter and to pronounce
thereon. They would assemble for the
purpose of discussing the business in hand
only, and when they had pronounced their
decision or award there would, ibs0 Fdcko.
he an end of the meeting, or when they de-
cidcd upon some common law there would
he an end Of the session. The award would
of course be accepted as final by the coun-
tries whom the delegates represented. The
common laws decreed by the delegates
could be re-cnacted by each of the States
which had sent representatives in its own
legislature by an agreement previously ar
rived at. BY these means minor differences
would be avoided The form of govern
mcnt in each State, whether monarchicaI or
republican, would not matter, for no State
would interfere with the internal affairs of
the others neither would the specially
convened assembly interfere with such in
ternal affairs. 1t would only decide on
such general and broad questions, as peace
or war; for example, or on common law, to
dscHss which it had been summoned.
The nearest illustration can give of this
general assembly was the gathering in Paris
last year of delegates to settle the dispute
about the Boring sea fisheries. matter
which closely concerned the United States,
the Colonies and the Mother Country.
The Alabama case, which was settled
many years ago by a court of arbitration at
Geneva. hit on something OF the same idea,
but as an illustration of my meaning it
does not serve nearly rs well aS the Berng
Sea Convention. | cannot help pauSing
here to ask, what might have been the CON
dition of England and America now. and
what might have been the SutfcringS under
gone if that arbitration had not taken
place? 1t is fearful picture to contem-
plate.
In brief. then, each member of the CON
federation should have the power to make
its own laws, and govern itself according to
its own ideas, but matters affecting the
whole of the Anglo-SaNN community
should he settled by a general assembly of
Il