New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-09
IMPERIAL FEDERATION.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TO SQUARE
THE IMPERIAL CIRCLE.

The Jubilee. which closes this week has been
an impressive spectacle Of loyalty and imperial
ism. The Colonial Premiers and their military
guards have been overwhelmed with attentions
and courtesies at Windsor. at Portsmouth. in
London and wherever they have been enter
tanned. Everything has been done 10 strengthen
the bonds between the MotherlGnd and the cir
Gle Of independent nations confedera'ions and
Crown colonies under the British flag. BY slim
uating desire for organic unity between England
and her colonial possessions the Jubilee has ere
ated an atmosphere for Imperial Federation. In
sttutions however, are not air plants. Tney
must be rooted In something more substantial
than sentiment and emotion. In order to become
new growths with a vital force OF their own they
must have organic form and be grounded upon
material Interests What Is now asserted by
keen but possibly over-sangune observers 10
that the Jubilee celebration has not been entirely
outs de the range of practical politics and that
the rise Of a new and important imperial nstitu-
tlon has been witnessed
This Is a Colonial Committee Of the Council.
Among the Jubilee honors was the elevation or
the eleven Colonial Premiers 10 the dignity OK
membership in the Most Honorable Privy Coun-
ell. They have met twice In the Colonial Office
since their appointment, and under the presi-
dency Of the Secretary for the Colonies. Mr..
Chamberlain, they have discussed in secret ses-
sion various questions affecting the relations Of
the mother State and the colonies. What
the precise nature OF these conferences Is not
known. They may have taken up the question
Of colonial contributions to the support OF the
Royal Navy or they may have exchanged views
respecting preferential tariffs. an Imperial Zo-
verein. or a closer union for mutual defence
Whatever they were discussing, they act
ing. whether voluntarily or fortuitously. as a
committee of the Privy Council and new chap
ter in the history Of imperial relations may
have been opened.
THE PRIVY COUNCIL
Students OF English history hardly need to be
reminded that many constitutional changes have
been effected through the fundamentally ~ this
historic BODY. The Privy Council consists Of the
princes Of the royal house. the Archbshops OF
Canterbury and York, Ministers and ex-Ministers
Of the Crown and other eminent men who have
been promoted TO the dignity OF membership.
Every member is entitled to be addressed as the
Right Honorable" and hence nomination TO the
Council Is a coveted decoration. There now
about two hundred and fifty members OF the
Privy Council AS body ii has survived the
evolution Of Cabinet Government from the chaos
OF irresponsible sovereignty. royal favoritism
and caba intrigue. 1t may he summoned by the
Queen. but matter Of fact II never meets
The roll fills page in the handbooks of the day.
and membership is a guaranty Of exceptional
dignity whenever letters are addressed or names
used in public lists. If 1t were not for the living
shoots grated upon the ancient stock the Privy
Council a corporate body would be useless
trunk without inherent vitality.
Cabinet government. for example. was the out
growth of the historical Privy Council. which
from the earliest days had been inseparable from
the Crown. Every affair Of state debated in
council, and the sovereign was left at liberty to
follow such advice ne preferred. Gradually
the great Offices of State. including the
office of the Lord High Treasurer were
thrown into commission. and after a long
period of government by cabals and favor
ties the personal superintendent of the
sovereign came to an end The Admins
trative Council, which had always been close
to the sovereign, became a Cabinet RESPONSE
BILE to Parliament. This transition process was
fairly complete during the reign OF William III:
but to this day not line of statute law can be
quoted as a warrant for Cabinet government II
was a system grated upon the old Council The
Prime Minister himself. while the most powerful
Of the Queens subjects, has no other position In
law than that Of a member OF the Privy Council
who obeys the royal command TO nominate Min
listers for the Crown. 1t Is precedent alone that
makes the office what 1t is Mr. Chamberlain is
de facto member Of the Cabinet, but de jure he
advises the Queen solely in his capacity Privy
Councillor.
USES OF THE COUNCIL.
The Privy Council. while it has transmitted It's
~ he "a has o.
from time to time with administrative functions
What Is now the Board OF Trade was originally
a Committee Of the Prvy Council: another COM
mttee 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 to
other divisions of the Council The national sys-
TEN of education is under the charge Of
committee OF the Council. made up mainly from
members Of the Cabinet. with president and .
vice president. The protection of English cattle
from contagon of imported disease was also one
Of the duties Of this anomalous Council When-
ever any new administrative function IS created
by legislation and there is no executive depart
ment 10 which It properly belongs. committee or
the Privy Council IS organized for the purpose
The Council itself does not meet to authorize
such transfers of power Ministers of the day
simply avail themselves Of the framework OF the
historic Council and fit into. it their new commit
tee TO suit the emergency.
The Privy Council also discharges certain
judicial functions through committee made Up
OF the Lord Chancellor. the Lords Of Appeal in
Ordinary and other authorities. 1t hears APP
peals and renders decisions in ritual and other
ecclesiastical cases. and is the highest tribunal
for determining burning questions OF religious
worship and poty. 1t also regulates Admiralty
practice on appeal and exercises supreme jurs-
dcton over Colonial cases which are in lltga-
ton 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