The times., 1897-07-11
Real Meaning of the Jubilee
Celebration i'm London.
A GREAT COLONIAL SCHEME
SThe Morning Dretnbeat" to BE
Fact and Not Fancy i 4 the Chati'-
beIIaiD Theory Holds-fhe En-
larged Privy Council and the
Possible Parliament.

uillftA1N RNdIOH lid sJtNA INSA
with attentions and couitesies at Win isof'
ct Portsmouth, in London and wherever
they have been entertained Everything
has been done TO strengthen ths Bonds
let xeen the motherland and the circle
OF Independent nations, eSnfedefatiois
ard crown colonies under the British
flag. BY stimulating desire lor organic
unity -ber yveen England md her c"soh'"i
posseSsiops tie Jubilee has created "I s''-
nos3here for imperial Federation III
stitutions however, are bot ar piahus'
The1 must he rooted in something uiore
suhstautial than sentiment anu elhosloh-
In order to become new srowths WIN
vital force OF their own they must IaNe
organic form and he grounded upon hia-
terial interests. What is now asserted by
letn but possibly over sang Gi'se observers
Is that the jubilee celebration has mol
been entirely outside the range OF fFac-
tteal uolitics and that the rise of new
and imnartant imperial instiCJtlon has
Been Witnessed
This rs a colonial committee Of the
oouncil Among the jubilee honors was
the elevation Of the eleven colonial pre-
rniers 10 the dignity of membership IN
the most honorable privy council 1iey
have met twice in the colonial office since
their appointment, and under the presl'
deucy of the secretary for the colonies.
Mi Chamberlain, they have discussed IN
secret session various questions afIectng
the relations OF the mother state and The
colonies What was THE precise nature
of these conferences is mol known. They
may have taken up the question of colonial
contributions TO the support or the -oyal
navy or they may have exchanged views
respecting pIeferential tariffs, an imperial
zollvetein or a closer union for mutual
defense Whatever they were discussing,
they were acting, whether voluntarily ar
fortnitonsly, as a Committee OF the privy
council, and d new chapter in tie his
tory or imperial relations may have been
opened.
Staaentsof English history hardly need TO
he reminded that many constitutional
changes have been effected through the
instrnlnenrality OF this historic body The
priyy codncil consists Of the princes OF
the ROYAL house the Archbishops OF canter-
bury and York, ministers and eS-nlinisteTs
of the crown, and other eminent men who
IgdNE iieEI W lA2N
hcrship Every members is entitled TO be
addressed as the Right Honorable, and
hence nouination on to the council is a coveted
decoration. There are now about 200
members Of the privy council AS body
it has survived the evolution or cabinet
government from the chaos of irresponsible
sovereignty, royal fayoritisln, and cahal
intrigue. 1t may be summoned by the
Queen, hIIt matter OF fact iu never
meets The roll fills page in the hand
books of the day, and membership Is
guaranty Of exceptional dignity wneheser
letters are addressed or names used inpublic
lists If it were not fOr the living shoots
grated upon the ancient book, the privy
council q corporate body would he
useless trunk without inherent vitality.
Cabinet government, for example, was
the outgrowth OF the historical privy
council. which from the earliest days had
been inseparahle from the crown Every
affair OF state was debated in council
and the sovereign was left at liberty to
follow sucn advice as he preferred. Grad
uaIIy the great offices of state including the
office OF the lord high treasurer. werc
thrown into commission and after . long
period OF government by cabals and IA
vorites, the personal superintendent If
the soy ereign came to an end. The adm,n-
istrative council. which had always been
close TO the sovereign, became a cabinet
responsible TO parliament
This transition process was fairly CON
plete during the reign OF William III: but
TO this Gay not 81 line of statute law can
be quoted as a warrant roT cabinet govern
nrent II was q system grated upon the
old council. The prime minister himself.
while tie most powerful Of the Queens
subjects. has nc other position in Law than
that OF d member of the pnyy council,
who Obeys the royal command 10 nomin lte
ministers for the crown 1t is prece Gent
alone that makes the office what it is
MT. Chamberlain is de facto member of
the cabinet, but de JuIt he advises the
Queen solely in his capacity as privy cOun-
cilOT.
The pnvy council, while it has trans
nitte-d its ancient powers TO the cabinet,
has been invested fTorl time to time with
administrative functions What is now
The board Of trade was originally a COM
nllttee OF the priyy council: another com
niittee was charged under the public health
act with supervision of local authorities
in sanitary matters. and exercised this
function Until the local government board
was created, and other duties have been
assigned from time to time 10 other
divisions Of the council The national
system of education is row under the
charge OF d committee of the council made
up mainly from members OF the cabinet,
VIII president and a vice president The
Protection Of English cattle from contaeion
OF Imported disease was also one of the
duties or this anomalous council When
ever any new administrative function is
created by legislation and there Is no
executive department TO which it properly
belongs, a committee OF the privy council
is ercs=nized for he purpose The council
Itself does not meet to authorize such trans
fers Cf powers. Minis. ers OF the da V siinplv
avail themselves OF the framework If the
historic council and fit into il new oom-
mirtees 10 suit the emergency.
The privy Council also discha rres car
tain judicial functions through a commit
tee made up of the lord chancellor. the
lords of appeal In ordinary and other
authorities. II hears appeals and renders
decisions in ritual and other ecclesiastical
cases, and is the highest tribunal for de
t"rInin:ng burning questions OF religions
worship and poiity- 1t also regulates ad-
mtralty practice on appeal. and exercises
supreme jurisdiction over colonial cases
which are in litigation. These three
lines OF work have nothing In Common.
but there was no other tribunal with
authority for settling these questions. and
consequently this one was created out OF
the council In like manner there is q
privy council in ireland. TO which what