LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE CRUX OF FEDERATION.
[To Tnic Eorroa or THE "srscrAzos.."] Szs,—It is now as good as admitted by at all events British Home-rulers, that Irish " Home-rule " involves English, Scotch, Welsh, and probably Ulster statutory Parliaments, with an Imperial Parliament over all, in which the Colonies shall also be represented. There are, of course, many objections to this scheme, but one occurs to me which is absolutely con- clusive. In one respect, England (proper) fills quite a peculiar position in the world. To all other nations their domestic affairs are the most important, but England's trade and commerce have assumed such enormous proportions that her Imperial interests overtop all others. For good or evil, she has adopted Free-trade, become dependent on other countries for food and employment, and must keep her communications open at all cost. She dare not place Army, Navy, and Imperial legislation in the hands of an authority of which she was not practically the mistress. Every part of the Empire save England herself could support its population comfortably out of its own soil. For this solid reason, England can never enter any Federation or surrender her complete liberty of action. Englishmen pur sang feel this instinctively, and hence the Members of Parliament returned by England (proper) are nearly three to one against Home-
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