Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-05-31
HOME RULE AND FEDERATION

Like Topsy, the, British constitution "jest growed.'
And. like other things which have developed in response
TO the chance demands of the time and place. 1t il full
Of twists and oddities. The present parliamentary system
is an Illustration Of this. The British parliament is com.
posed Of representatives from England. Wales, Scotland
and Ireland. 1t is the. governing body Of the British EN-.
pire. but other parts Of the empire are not represented in
it. With reference to several Of the larger units Of the
empire its governmental functions are slight. Canada
Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are, in effect,
self governins republics. Their domestic affairs are en-
ttrely in the hands Of their own legislative bodies ana
they are FREQ to make and execute their own laws as they
see fit. An illustration' Of this independence Of these
dominions in matters relating to their own affairs ID
found in the history OF the reciprocity movement in Can
ada. Canada makes her own tariff laws She is free to
impose whatever import duties she pleases, not only
against foreign nations. but against Great Britain, the
parent country. The reciprocity bill proposed in exchange
with the United States under which the products Of this
country would have been admitted to Canada in some
CAGES without duty at all, and in others at much lower
rates than were imposed on products from Great Britain.
The rejection Of the bill by the Canadian parliament was
an incident which does not affect the principle. Tho fact
is that Canada was at perfect liberty to enact and en-
force this legislation If she wished to do so. The situa-
ton would have q sort Of parallel in the admission by
Porto Rico. an American colony, Of goods from Cuba on
more favorable terms than were granted to those from
the United States proper. 0
The British parliament, in addition to its work in
taking care Of the broad. general interests Of the empire.
is charged with the administration Of local affairs in the
United Kingdom and ireland. There is no separate leg
islative body for Ireland. Wales, Scotland or England. We
have heard much Of home rule for Ireland. but If home
rule is granted under the present plan there will be an
Inconsistency which will call for q remedy. In that case
the Irish parliament will look after the domestic affairs
Of ireland, but Irish members Of the London parliament
will still have a voice in the management Of the local at
fairs Of England, Scotland and Wales.
Aside from the inequity of such an arrangement
practical considerations will create a demand for a
change. and the moment Irish home rule becomes a fact
a powerful movement will be under way for the creation
and ireland. il not for the whole empire. That would
call for separate parliaments respectively for England,
Wales and Scotland. as we'll as for ireland, which bodies
would take care Of the local affairs Of their respective
divisions. while the general parliament would have turis-
dicton over imperial affairs and those affairs affecting
the entire group Of peoples inhabiting the British Isles
The war has given impetus to the thought Of An
imperial federation in which each Of the more important
units Of the empire shall contribute IT. quota to an I'M.
|perial parliament, at the same time conducting its local
affairs through its own separate parliament. That such
an arrangement would be much more logical than the
present one II evident, and the part which the colonies
are playing in the war has led 70 . general recognition
ofsthe propftety Of their being represented in the govern.
ing body Of the great empire Of which they are parts.