Evening star., 1926-12-02

Another tremendous step In the
British development of democracy Is
recognized by the American press IN
the announcement that the recent
empire conference framed a new
agreement covering relations OF the
self-eoverning dominions to the
mother country. ,
"This is a development in the spread
OF democracy throughout the "ofiu
that is inspiring as 1t is momehtous'
saws the Pasadena ,Star-News.' Brit-
ain is ruling best by ruling !east'
Voluntarism Is the very soul or the
compact between the dominlons ana
the empire.
."rhis Is not a. union Of states with
separate sovereignties." the Hartford
Times explains, but union OF sover-
eighty with separate organizations
for it's exercise and use. In the
United states the President does not
represent the local sovereignty O!
state. The King of England
does represent the local sover.
eighty, not only Of England, Scotland
and wales, but of Canada, for eX-
annie. az well. Practically. we see
the founding Of a great political ex-
neriment. a purely voluntary federa-
tion for what Is in reality purposed to
resemble a nation of nations. the
ma;ntenance and functions of which
ere TO be tntrusted to entirely separate
governmental agencies in cooperation
wholly free. 1t is an experiment
fraught with innumerable trials, ana
which may be susceptible 10 grave
dangers as to its necessary evolution
and improvement.
$50 far as the present form IS tan
gible." the Chicago Tribune points OUT
lit creates a federation even less deh-
mite and substantial than that or our
States under the articles OF con1eoera-
ton" The Tribune visions, however
a possible Imperial union, somewhat
like ours, with a common congress
and strong imperial executive,
chosen not by the mother country, but
nv all members Of the union.' The
Rochester Times.Union observes that
"Rritish statesma nship is depending
not upon political control, but upon
sentimental attachment, to hold TO.
gether the self lfgoverning dominlons OF
empire" The decision seems to that
pa aper to be Landmark in the history
OF Anglo Saxon institutions
"Free institutions are to be its life
blood. free cooperation Its 1nstru-
ment," says the st. Joseph News.Press
of IAN interesting experiment IN I'M
perial government and the Cnaries'
ton Evening Post remarks that N is
the sortEof step that has made Gfea'
Rritain SO wonderfully successful In
yoyerninx-more successful. indeed.
than any other nation Of either ancient
or modern times. Yet how George III
and old Lord North would have raged
and gnashed their teeth at the sug'
sestion of such a policy. and no"
radical it would have seemed even TO
good old Queen Victoria" suggests the
Post. Nevertheless. the Manchester
Union feels that while there are 70
he some amendments to the rules, the
game will continue to be played, and
will he in essence the same old game.
The self government OF Canada. Tor
instance" according to the Toronto
Daily Star. has long been more com
nIete in fact than it has seemed in
form. AS to our treaties. our own
government has been making them
As to our governors general, our own
government has, practically. been Sc
iectine them. All our laws, we make
them"
The New York Sun offers the judg
ment that the conference report "has
done little more than to record the ex
isting status Of the self governing do
minions of the British commonwealth
of nations and to propose methods for
more convenient transaction of their
domestic and external governmental
affairs" The Sun emphasizes the
fact that the machinery suggested
to meet the conditions specifically
avoids the limitations inherent in q
written constitution" And the Lynch
burg Advance finds 1t significant that