The times., 1897-06-28
TO CEMENT THE EMPIRE.
A Great Political Object of the
Queens Jubilee.

Portsmouth, June 24.-The most splendid
week OF rejoicing in English history. when
every loyal heart has been keeping
time 10 the music Of God Save the Queen, =
closed at this historic stronghold of sea
power with the ma jesiic ref rain of 'Biitan-
nia Rules the Waves" This change OF
scene fiom London to Spithead, with the
nightiest English fleet ever seen at
anchor, was well onntriyed, because II n
trod8ceo afresli what was meant TO he The
principal motive of the grand chorus of
national rejoicing. This is imperial
isni. The presence of the colonial prenlters
and guards OF hon or flom the erGs of the
earth was designed TO be the most2onspicu-
GUS feature OF the Queens day, but the
Queen was the one commanding figure
with magnetic power. The pre!niers at
tracted less attention than the retinue of
princes and special ENJOYS, and were minor
figures in the stately court OF honor.
Royalty dominated the remaining func-
tons OF the week, but here Imperialism
oyershadowed even royalty in this mag
nificent pageant OF sea power, by which
worldwide empire has been established
andis guarded with invincible might. Mr..
Chamberlain supplied the colonial watch
word early in the week, when he pro-
claimed that the Crown was the only link
between the mother country and her self
governing dependencies, and subsequently,
he presided over the first series of coasuita-
tions with the eleven pTerniers By which
practical measures might be adopted for
strengthening the relations between Eng
land and her colonial possessions and i'm
parting organic and possibly federal unity
to the empire He is a statesman of crea-
tive genius. and he is ambitious an knows
that the chance of his becoming prime
minister hangs upon the possibility of TAX
ing advantage of existing conditions OF
loyalty and good feeling to do a great
work. IL he can succeed in bringing the.
colonies and the mother state into closer
and more harmonious relations by means
of ZollveTein or system of dividing the
burdens OF maintaining the fleet, or by
representative imperial council, the jubilee
win be an epoch-naking event of the
highest historical Importance
No political problem OF such danger
and complexity, or beset with greater
inherent difficulties, ever ntered into the
mind Of man. 1t is like the ma thematical
puzzle of squaring the circle. The British
empire is not one world, but a system OF
worlds, each revolving in it's own orbit
and in Its own sphere of material interests
Not even Mr.. Chamberlain with his practi-
cal instincts and lucid political intelligence
can have reasonable expectation of
establishing organic unity In the imperial
milky way. What has been done this
week with extraordinary success has been
the stimulation OF British pride even dam
gerously near to the point of intoxication.
The Queens procession, with $4,000
soldiers under arms, and with the stateli-
est cavRlcade of princes ever seen, was
a pageant unrivalled in picturesque beauty
and imperial glory, worthy Of the dignity
and prestige Of the greatest capital of the
modern world.
The court functions especially, the BAN
quets, receptions. parties at the palace,
and the gala night at the opera, We're of
unprecede nted briliiancy The royal
guests and foreign ENJOYS have been
welcomed with stately splendor The
entertainment Of the outcast poor by the
Princess OF Wales fund has been royal
In its generosity, and in Spithead, apart |
from the foreign ships and excursion |
craft, there was fleet Of warsflips with |
lines extending twenty-five miles under
the Union Jack.
EnglShmen have q right to be eXhila- |
rated by such a gala week Only O great |
race and a powerful empire could have
ordered SO stupendous and brilliant a
fete