The Washington herald., 1911-02-19
special Gable to The Washington Herald.

Special Gable to The Washington Herald.
London, Feb. 1S.-We are all much
amused by the fuss which has been made
by Champ Clark's facetious remark that
| reciprocity opens the door to annexation.
| Annexation is a bad word. Assimilation
permeation, fraternization-any Of these
words would have been better To an
! mex means TO take what does not belong
to you, with or without the consent of
the annexed. and so far from resentfng
the idea that closer political union will
| naturally follow from greater CONNER
cial intercourse, there is nothing more
devOutly to be desired
We are so sure of Canadian loyalty
that We encourage rather than discour-
age every increase in her intimacy with
the States, whether that be commercial,
judicial or political. What we desire
after the TIFF of 40 years ago is that
John Bull shall remarry Miss Columbia.
or, II you prefer it. Uncle Sam should
WOO and wed Nine. Britannia Now,
Canada is cOIy parlor for courting
Necessitate Political Changes.
Secretary Knoxs eloquent words as to
the ties that unite Canada and the Unit
ed States might be applied almost with
out alteration of a word to Great Britain
and the United States. When he says
there is not the slightest possibility that
racial and moral union will involve
any political change he goes too far. for
as other ties multiply political changes
will become necessary. A general arbi-
tratiOn treaty is a forerunner of many
such.
Dreamers are already talking OF the
United States of the World, and it is not
such far cry TO the United States Of
the English-speaking world, and CIark's
speech, although intended as a Jest, has
set peoples minds moving in the right
direction
Remember that It was Cecil Rhodes.
the high priest of British imperialism,
who declared that he attached so much
importance to the Anglo-American union
that IL it could not be obtained otherwise
than by applying for admission rs states
to be federated with the American re-
public he would apply for admission.
Prospects for Home Rule Bright.
1t is extraordinary how pUrblind some
politicians can be when confronted with
a situation which they dislike. On
Wednesday night keen Unionists assured
me confidentiaIly that the government
would not be able to defeat the anti
home rule amendment by more than
fifty votes Within couple of hours it
was rejected by a majority of 115
The ministers, moreover, definitely
pledge themselves to make the home
rule bin the first order of the day at the
next session.
If the veto bill is passed this session
the home rule bill will be introduced in
1872 and rejected by the Lords. 1t will
be reintroduced in 1913 and will be again
rejected by the Lords. II will then be
introduced in the autumn session and
passed over the Lords veto. II all goes
well the bill ought to receive the royal
assent before New Years Day in 1914
If Ireland wants home rule and Irish
men are fit to govern Ireland under home
rule, they must be fit to define the ma
tUre of the constitutional instrument
dertake the responsibility OF governing
their own country; but strangely enough.
this seems to be the last thing the Irish
leaders seem to desire.
Would Be Welcome to English.
When Gladstone introduced his home
-ule bill Parneu agreed that Ireland
should contribute to the imperial ex-
;hequer. To-day Ireland pays nothing
or the imperial services. pays nothing
o the national debt, and, in addition,
The problem before the Irish leaders is
imply this: Under home rule is Ireland
o be subsidized from Westminster or is
he to pay her own way out of her own
esources? Redmond and Dillon want
Omebody else but themselves to face
he responsibility Of formulating a def
lite answer to that question
1t Is a suggestive fact that in Glad
tones time home rule was advocated by
hose who disliked the empire, whereas
o-day home rule is advocated chiefly
ecause OF the effect this is likely to
ave in strengthening the empire. Home
Ie is welcomed by Englishmen be-
ause of their hope and belief that II
ONE rule were granted it would be pos
ble to draw still closer the ties that
mite Britain and the United States.
oosevelt told King George bluntly that
1til home rule is conceded there would
ways be obstacles to fraternal re-
MON between the empire and the re-
ublic.