The Washington herald., 1911-02-26
WHY NOT KINGS OF
BRITISH COLONIES
UNDER AN EMPIRE?
BY FLANEUR-

BY FLANEUR-
likely to come of the appointment o
KING Georges uncle, the Duke of Con
naught to the governorship of Canada
This cannot but be meant as an homo
tc the Dominion Canadians In genera
are delighted, including the Quebec ma
tionalistS" Liberals particularly rejoice
because the dukes coming means Ear
Grey's going. This gentleman PERSONAL,
is liked by everybody, but he has been
meddler IN Canadian politics as no pre-
Vious governor ventured to be and a.
none could have been had not the con
ciliatory and patient Laurier been pre-
mier. Real Liberals say the duke vii
follow the example Of his mother ant
brother, whose constitutional practics
was not publicly medd1esome, therefore
not embarrassing to their premiers and
not. according to the hurry-up lingo
school of Cecil Rhodes, in which Ear
Grey was taught.
The most important consequence viii
appear promptly to anybody who reflects
this way: who can succeed a royal duke
SS NA~OIOg IL dppOl1I6u dS an
honor to Canada, what would it be tc
send out later a nonroyal person in his
placer That would seem like a come
down for Canada 1t would resemble the
commissioning of minister to a country
which had previously received an am
basSador. Not to make too much of this,
1t appears that the dukes appointment
well may lead to a succession of royal
viceroys or regents or even kings of
Canada Thus the virtual independence
of the country might be legal and COM
Plete without any political shock A
royal viceroy would be bound merely to
reign, as British monarchs do, and to
leave government to his ministers. If he
were entitled regent and fun monarchical
powers accorded him, hf would complete
Canada's independence and yet strength
en- Canada's disposition to stand by Great
Britain in emergencies. Just so if the
duke were made king of Canada, accord
ing to the desire of Sir John Macdonald,
the former premier.
If at the same time each dominion of
the empire were to receive a regent or a
king of the blood royal. in exactly the
same constitutional position as the King
of Great Britain bears to that kingdom,
and if the latter were made tituIar en-
fabric of the voluntary empire would
have been built The real union would
not be invalidated at all by the complete
and acknowledged independency of the
various kingdoms any more than that
union is now invalidated by the virtual
lndependency OF the dominions. An ef-
feet of this imagined system would be
that each kingdom duly would arm ac-
cording to its new position of an fnde-
DO,
the dominionS of the common emperor
would be greatly increased. Into the
" hole union new vigor would be breathed
by the responsibility attaching to inde-
pendency. No foreign power could de-
clare war on any member of the union
without danger of the other members
taking part And if foreign powers chose
To declare war against the empire that
would be to challenge a welI-prepared
combination.
The second of the important political
consequences will be that of a restora-
ton of the balance of Canada's constitu-
tion. That effect is more assured be-
cause the duke is an experienced soldier,
accustomed to the strictness of military
accounts. Hence it is not credible that he
Will permit public moneys to be voted
into his private pocket under pretense
hat they are for travelling expenses, fire
lights, &c. Nobody will grudge public
allowances TO the coming prince. Every
body believes he will refuse everything
which is not voted straight
The wretched matters to which allusion
has been made are known to Canadian
politicians and journalists in general, but
not publicly discussed. Earl Grey's med
Hing in the navy business has tended TO
mako 1lnnnnI1laT iaIl IlHra
and Ontario Liberals, an armament
which is necessary to coast defense and
which the adroit LaUrier would have
been able to popularize had he not
seemed TO be prompted by the earl. All
his does not deny the general liking for
ord Grey nor that he has promot-
I'd good causes. His term ends the Lans-
iowne dynasty of Canandian viceroys. 1t
consisted of Lords Mimic and Grey. A
Radical ministry sends prince of the
Hood, whose. brother, King Edward. al
ways appeared to be a sound Liberal. |
Wherefor all manner of good sense is ex-
1ected of the coming viceroy. Moreover, !
when in Canada as a young man he was |
democratic, popular, and everything that |
vas regarded as fitting.
The third important consequence of the |
luke's advent next September may be |
expected from the fact that he is not |
My an experienced soldier, but declared |
" competent military critics to be a |
,reat one. They say that he should have |
'ecome head of the British army on his |
merits had he not been kept out of the |
lace by English prejudice against let
ing the royal Duke of Cambridge soon
e so sucuceeded by another member
( the royal family. 1t may be assumed |
hat a great general in Ottawa, one free
o advise the ministry privately and quite
bove ''the headquarters ring" will ap-
roach the question of local defense as
has been approached in South Africa,
Vhere war is understood by ruling states
nen.
A land armament which should have
een conceived with reference to backing
p a coast defense that soon may be nee
sSary has been conceived and set I'D
18th ridiculous reference to a quite i'm
ossible problem, which Canada needs
OF and should not consider at aI-that
( defense against the friendly United
tates. That which Canada ought to
ave done first has been neglected Hence
n the outbreak of any serious war IN
diving her she would, If in possession
nothing but the Laurier navy, be COM
elled to try to convert her cruisers to a
otchy coast defense and unable either
D save her shore towns or to lend a ship
} the British admiralty. It seems rea-
enable to presume that the warrior
uke who is coming out next September
Ill show the government better way. |
SAFELY INCARCERATED.