New-York tribune., 1900-05-28
AU STRALIAN UNITY.
A BOX OF HONEY WITH A BITTER PILL
HAS MIR. CHAMBERLAIN BLUNDEREDp
London. May Ia

London May Ia
Mr.. Chamberlain's speech the Australian
Commonwealth bill was the finest debating per-
formance of the session. and merited the COM
pliments showered upon 1t by the Unionfst
press 1t was not addressed to the Opposition
benches nor to the group OF Australian dele
gates in the gallery. but to the people of the
Commonwealth IL was an appeal 70 them
to reverse their own Judgment on a single point
in their complex scheme Of federation A men,
ber of Parliament assured me that he had never
heard Mr. Chamberlain speak with equal delib-
Grafton and self restraint. HE seemed 70 be on
his guard against himself" said this veteran
''and determined not to be led into any indis-
cretion or imprudence. Ordinarily he Is the
hard hitter This time ii was suaviter in modo
without fortiter in re. Throughout the speech
he conciliatory and persuasive, seeking TO
smooth over all the rough places and yet To
keep his wedge firmly in place" 1t
speech which occupied nearly two hours IN de-
livery. and contained only one sarcasm, which
was flung at Mr.. Asquith-
The speech of the Secretary for the Colonies
was box of honey with a bitter pill In the
centre The honey is found in several columns
of euogy and sympathetic appreciation OF the
Australian Constitution as a monument TO the
political capacity OF the self governing colonies
to the enlightened wisdom of Sir Samuel Griffin
and Mr.. Barton and to the progressive tenden-
cies of the Greater Britain in assirniating the
federal ideas of the United States and in In
cooperating with them democratic prin-
cipIe as the referendum. Australia has never
received so fine a tribute as Mr.. Chamberlain's
exposition of confederation and home rule on
a broad democratic basis commensurate with
the requirements Of ideal republic Tho
quality of Mr. Chamberlains praise was not
strained, and his speech will be read with
flush of pride by every Australian. While the
honey fairly cloyed with It's sweetness. the
pill was in the last mouthfuL There a pro-
posal in the Constitution which required amend
ment because it weakened ancient link be-
tween the Queen and her rennOtest subjects. and
was not only detrimental to the best interests
of Australia, but would lead 10 complications
destructive of good relations and pre1udicial to
the unity Of the Empire. This clause "A.
which for the sake of cearness L quote text
ually:
No appeal shall be permitted to the Queen in
Council in any matter involving the interpre-
taton of this Constitution. or of the Constitution
of a State unless the public interests of some
part of Her Majesty's dOminiOns other than the
Commonwealth State are involved
Except provided in this section. this Con-
stitutfon shall not impair any right which the
Queen may be pleased TO exercise. by virtue OF
her royal prerogative, to grant special leave OF
appeal from the High Court TO Her Majesty in
Council But the Parliament may make laws
limiting the matters in which such leave may
be asked.
RELATIONS THROUGH FREE WILL.
Mr. Chamberlain admitted that the relations
of the mother country to the colonies depended
entirely upon their free will and absolute con-
sent The links were very slender; almost a
touch might snap them; and If they were felt
to be irksome there would be no attempt to
force them to wear them Clause IA weakened
the right of appeal and thereby was injurious to
the best interests of Australia and prejudiciaI
to the unity OF the Empire. The Government
believed that public opinion had not yet been
definitely formed in Australia, and consequently
had decided to amend the clause so as TO pro-
vide for the maintenance Of the right of appeal.
At the same time the Government was pre-
pared to constitute a Court of Appeal for the
Empire by giving Australia. Canada India and
South Africa permanent representation IN the
House of Lords and the Judicial Committee OF
the Privy Council The colonial Judges so ap-
pointed would be life peers and would be paid
the salaries as Lords OF Appeal
Mr.. Chamberlain's objections TO Clause "a had
been plainly stated IN his memorandum 10 the
Australian Premiers. The term public inter
ests'' was so vague to leave uncertainty
where precision was required: various impor-
tant questions relating to boundaries between
States. shipping and fisheries rights and hnan-
caI and commercial matters involved appeal to
an Imperial court; and weighty representations
had been made to the Government from Aus
tralia in favor OF the amendment of the clause
Mr.. Chamberlain restated these points and as
serted that there would be strong feeling OF
opposition in Australia If the Imperial Para-
ment were TO exercise its right as trustee FOR
the Empire and amend the clause He had
carefully prepared this portion Of his speech.
and contrary to his usual habit, read page after
page of manuscript to the Commons He dss-
claimed the onerous responsibility of pressing
on great self-governing communities views TO
which they were absolutely opposed. and de-
clared that the Australian people in asserting
TO the Constitution had not meant TO preclude
amendments by the Imperial Parliament. Opin-
ion in the colonies was divided the question,
and 1t was putting too great a strain upon a
great democratic principle 10 state that IN
great constitutional scheme the referendum car
ried with il assent to every one OF it's propo-
sitions. In this way the Secretary for the Colo
MES appealed over the heads OF the Australian
delegates and Premiers to the people who had
voted on the Constitution. There was minor
ity on his side at the outset; he hopes TO con-
vert IT into majority.
MR.. BARTON LISTENS
Mr. Barton listened intently from the gallery
to Mr.. Chamberlain's speech and exchanged
smiles with his colleag~e, Mr.. Deakin over
various passages Those who had heard hirs
speak at public ban9uets could not help wishing
that he could be allowed to follow Mr. Cham
berlain from the bar OF the Commons IT would
have been remarkable intellectual treat for
the audience. for Mr.. Barton is a speaker far
more persuasive and logical than Mr.. Chamber
lain. and equally adroit fluent and self-pOs-
sessed How quick he would have been 10 take
alx-orN - Fo&3T