Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-08-15

. PRESENTED as federal, self-soyerning
= states of the Union. Depending from
this imperial and federal one-chamber
, parliament there would be Federal
! Imperial cabinet, which would have
control of all matters Of imperial pol
licy, as regards the foreign relations
, Iof the empire, would deal with the in
, ternal dissensions among its various
component autonomous states. and
understanding about an imperial eco
nomic policy.
Powers of Proposed Assembly.
In this Federal parliament would be
| vested the right Of concluding all trea-
ties with foreign powers. the sole
power of determining questions OF
peace or war, the control Of all the
military and naval forces Of the en-
pire, and the imposition Of imperial
taxes, by means of which the cost OF
the naval and military defences OF the
empire would be more equitably dis
ltributed. Until now Great Britain has
been compelled to bear the brunt OF
these expenditures.
The judicial committee Of the privy
council, which already fulfils the
duties of q tribunal of supreme and
final appeal from all oversee depen-
dencies to the sovereign, who is tech
nically the fountain of justice, will be
reconstructed into supreme court OF
the empire, with chief justice. Is
sues in the imperial parliament will
be determined by a majority vote. the
crown, of course. retaining, as hereto
fore, the prerogative of Withholding its
signature, which Is equivalent to the
power Of veto Of President Wilson.
Lloyd George believes that by means
of this startling scheme, first dreamed
of but never realized by that father Of
British imperialism, the late Fighting
Joe" Chamberlain, that he will be able
to fulfil the legitimate aspiration OF
the great oversee dependencies, for
larger share In the determination OF
the policies and destinies of the en-
pire. The federal parliament will
satisfy the rapidly developing Ma
tionalist ambitions of Scotland, and OF
Wales, and above all, the federal par
Lament offers the only sane and ac-
ceptable solution Of that nightmare OF
British and American politics, the Irish
question. Moreover, 1t would avoid the
present obstruction of what may be
described as imperial business, through
the time Of both existing houses OF
parliament being wasted in the dis
cussion of petty issues, of purely
English, or might even say parochial
character.
An imperial parliament thus consti-
tuted, would prove bulwark Of de-
fence, not only of the United King
doms, but Of the entire Confederation
of the British Empire, against the
Revolutionary terrorism Of class labor.
such as that which is now seeking to
bulldoze the Lloyd George administra-
ton in London. 1t would deal with the
question of federalizing public services
and basic industries the consideration
of which could be postponed until
then. The project Of the premier for
imperial federation, cleverly embodies
certain planks Of the class labor plat
form, such as for instance the demand
for local autonomy and home rule. The
labor platform also insists upon the
participation of the various compo-
nent parts of the empire in the gov
ernment of the latter.
| On the other hand labor may be
relied upon to fight against imperial
naval or military enforced service for
the empire, against imperial taxation
and against imperial coercion. The
latter Is naturally repugnant to
labor's cherished principles Of soviet
or communist government, according
to the terms of which each community.
no matter how small, shall be a law to
Itself, independent of all imperial
supervision and control.
Lloyd George Needs a Party.
In order to put into execution this
project of imperial confederation,
which Lloyd George propose to sub
nit to parliament early next month.
he needs a party Of his own. For 1t
is already certain that his plan will
meet with determined opposition on
the part Of the old guard Of the Con-
Iservative and Of the Liberal parties:
that Is to say, of the Tories and Of
the Wings. who are bent on retaining
the supremacy of England in imperial
matters, and are opposed to conceding
to Scotland, Wales. Nationalist Ire
land and to Great Britain's oversee
dependencies any larger share In the
government of the empire than that
which they now enjoy.
new Lloyd George party is al
lready in process Of formation. Winston
lSpencer Churchill, who Is half Amer
lean through his mother, being the
principal organizer in the matter. It
is said to have received the adhesion
lof Lord Curzon and of Lord Miner.
land already includes, so 1t Is said, any,
where from $50 to 200 members Of the
existing parliament and is composed Of
the Moderates of the Unionist, Liberal
and even of the Labor camps. 1t styles
itself the centre party. 1t Is in reality
the imperial federation party and
Bonar Law, the Conservative leader,
in spite Of his being still one Of the
principal members Of the Coalition
cabinet of Lloyd George. has gone out
of his way publicly to condemn and
scoff at the organization, expressing
his hostility thereto. The centre
, party is one, however. which appeals
to the people at large. who realize that
in view of the new and altered condi-
tions resulting from the great war
, new methods Of government and new
policies are inevitable.
:. Moreover. the business interests.
!, great and small throughout the land.
infinitely prefer the idea Of postpon-
ing the issues raised by class labor
and of having them eventually dealt
with and controlled by a parliament