The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-13
The Canadian Liberals and Links Of
Empire.

Ill >tuitIth ~ h" VI
Empire.
We have pointed out that the Constitution
OF the Australian Commonwealth prohibits
appeals to the Imperial Privy Council from
decisions of the High Court Of Australia in
all cases involving the Interpretation Of the
Constitution of the Commonwealth or OF that
Of any constituent State. The sole eXcep-
ton Is purely nominal the case, namely,
where both parties to the litigation shall
consent to an appeal. On the other hand,
. the British North America Act. which EN-
bodies the Federal organic law of the Domin-
ion OF Canada, permits appeals in all cases.
Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN. when Introducing the
Commonwealth bill In the House Of Com
mons. dwelt upon this important difference
between the two Constitutions. and eulogized
the loyalty which had caused the Canadians
to insist upon retaining what he termed a
link of empire As a matter of fact, the
Canadian Liberals objected in the first in
stance to the fabrication Of the so-called
link. and they nave not since changed their
minds upon the subject. This is evident
from an editorial article published last week
In the Toronto Globe, perhaps the most in
fuential organ Of the Liberal party in
Canada.
The Globe maintains that the question Of
appeals in Colonial cases, except az they
may affect imperial interests, is essentially
a Colonial question. The self-governing
Colonies ought to be free to constitute their
own final courts OF appeal. 1t does not re-
gard the right Of appeal to the privy Coun-
ell as a link binding the Colonies TO the
mother country" 1t asserts that the
only real link is the pro-British senti-
ment which pervades communities Of
British origin. This is real, just be-
cause It Is so light. Any attempt
on the part Of the mother country
to maintain a link which should be-
felt by its transmarine daughter States
weakening the real bond Of union. This is,
undoubtedly. the right lesson to be drawn
from our Owl Revolutionary War, which
was caused by the British Parliamcnt's
assertion OF the right IN tax unrepresented
Colonies. and by the enforcement ~ Naviga-
ton acts which Disseminated against Colo
NAL shippers and producers.
1t Is not only, however, the judicial link
between the mother country and the
Dominion which Canadian Liberals are
disposed to repudiate. Many OF them are
also disposed to concur with Canadian Con-
servatives In regarding any legislative link
as impracticeble and unacceptable. some
notable testimony on this point was given
recently at the banquet Of the Canadian
Club OF New York by Mr.. G. w. Ross, the
Premier Of Ontario. who. II will be remem-
bered, IL a political ally OF Sir WILFrID
LAURIER. Mr.. Ross dis"countenanced tho
proposal. which by some Liberals is received
with favor, tina. Canadians should b. rrp-
resented In the British House Of Commons.
To his mind, he said, this would hc
a positive disadvantage. What chance.
he asked. would Canadians have In n Raria-
ment Of the federated Empire? He pointed
out that. II representation were propor-
toned to populatlon-and no other princi-
pie Of distribution would he tolerated-th
Dominion would have only about n dozen
members In the Federal Assembly. Ii
might. therefore. he overwhelmingly out
voted In matters vitality affecting Il, inter-
ests by mon to whom those interests would
be unintelligible, or alien. or actually an
tagonistic. Aside from this vital objection
to proportionate representation in n Fed
eral Assembly, Mr. Ross said ths' he
should hesitate. as a Comedian. 70 author
ize a dozen mon, no mlttrr what their
standing might he, 10 snNaj Tor TIC whole
people Of Canada"
What Is left, then, II neither a ~iu,licia' link
nor a legislative link is regarded rs salts.
factory or workable? Is there t, I've no ii,
between the mother country and her Col.