The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-21

London.-'Home rule all round !"
IL advocated by an increasing number
of British politicians as an alterna-
tive for the irrepressible conflict ap-
.parently involved in home rule for
ireland alone.
Many liberal leaders, including Mr..
AsQuith himself, are more ore less
committed in an informal way to the
proposition of home rule all round.
which means to give Scotland. Wales
and England as well as Ireland sepa-
rate parliaments for the conduct OF
their local affairs. leaving the imperial
parliament over all as the chief legis-
iative and executive body Of the en-
pire.
Many unionist leaders are advocates
of the same thing. except that they
prefer to use the word federalism"
eince the phrase home rule Is of it
self intolerable to the unionist mind.
In other words, there Is a large
body of opinion in both of the great
political parties OF Britain that the
imperial parliament cannot success
fully continue its task Of legislating
for the localities. and that by pro-
cess OF devolution 1t should grant
local powers to local parliaments.
United States an Example.
The'first notable experiment in fed
eralism An modern history was that
Of the United States. determined by a
MISREPRESENTATION by which thirteen
independent States delegated to a fed
eral congress certain federal and
general powers, retaining for them
selves and for the people all powers
net expressly granted to the national
government.
Since that constitution was adopted
In 1887. 1t has formed the basis of
many other federal constitutions.
Practically every one of the Latin
American republics was guided by IT.;
the ancient republic of Switzerland
followed IL IN large measure in IT'S
constitution OF 1854, and three great
self governing British dominions have
also profiteG by IL.
The Domiron of Canada was form
ed on the federal plan IN 1857, the
commonwealth of Austria IN 1900 and
the union Of South Africa in 1908.
1t lis of these three British 'dominions
that England knows. and IL is from
them that she is taking her lesson
In federalism.
In the Dominion Of Canada the re-
lation between the federal govern
,nent and the provincial government
is the reverse from that between the
federal government and the States IN
the United States, in that the federal
government grants TO the provinces
certain limited powers and retains
all other powers for itself. Austria
certain other powers for itself Aus
traiia and South Africa adopted their
constitutions in the twentieth centu-
ry. and have followed the American
plan Of limited federal powers.
Plan In Canada Basis of Debate.
All discussions OF federalism. whe-
Their by that name or any other in
Great Britain contem plate a devolu-
ton OF powers 10 the smaller leg
!slatures, the Same such plan as was
followed in Canada II is significant
that the other great federaiistic en-
pira OF modern times, Germany. Is
rarely, II ever, mentioned in the Eng
iisn discussions Of federalism. al
though IN one way II will more nearly
approach to the eventual British con-
stitution. since Prussia Is 20 much
greater than any other of the Ger
man states, even as Esngiandrwi con-
finue to be much greater inv AREA ana
extent than Scotland. Wales and Ire
land.
In the-Siiscussfon ofsBritish politics
there Is so much of tradition, both
political and religious, so much of
historical precedent. that ii Is at first
difficult to comprehend tho funda-
mental reason for the marvellous
growth of the federalistic sentiment,
1t is nothing more or less than the
extremely modern problem of munie-
ipal administration.
In the United States the people OF
the carital city OF Washington con-
tinually and loudly complain that the
local affairs are neglected by the ma
.ianal congress. which has exclusive
legislative Jurisdiction over the Dis
;rict Of Columbia. because congress Is
So busy with national things that II
Il failure as a city council From
time to time one hears complaints
from New York or from Cleveland
about State interference WITH city
government and demands for city
home rule with freedom from dorDi-
nation by albany or Columbus
Yet, practically every city in the
United States has certain charter pow
ers which enable Il to do great
many things which no British city can