COLONIAL PF.PRESENTATIVE PEERS.
WitinE contradicting the unfounded report that lie was sent out to Canada with a political mission from the Colonial Office, to as- certain the feelings of the Canadian people with. regard to a Federal Union' Lord Bury has shown that he will bring back very valuable testimony to the practicability and expediency of such a measure; and he has already thrown out a hint, which may be serviceable in strengthening the links that bind together the British Empire. In most of the colonies, independently of the ordinary political distinctions, there are two parties: one highly democratic in its tendency, ridicules any interference of the Home Government, or any connexion with the old country; the other still looks to "the metropolis" for protection, guidance, and distinction. That which may be called the Separa- tist Party seems in some of our colonies to forget how im- portant is the dependence of those provinces on the parent country for protection in ease of war. In the event of any great armed disturbance of the civilized world, where would Australia be without England? On the other hand, the Centralizing party has undoubtedly found great difficulty in suggesting a practical method of carrying out its plans. As Sir Francis Hincks said, in a pamphlet published some time back and recently quoted by Lord Bury, if our old American colonies resented. "taxation without representation," Colonial Members in the English Parlia- ment would enjoy representation though their constituents did not bear the burden of taxation. The objection is more technical than pertinent; but there are difficulties in identifying the func- tions of Colonial representatives with those of the House of Com- mons. Again the project of having a consultative chamber of colonial delegates in London is likely enough to be frustrated by the diversity of feelings and views amongst the various colonies. For instance, the Australian colonies, although some enterprising colonists had already used the collective flag of Australia with its five stars, have totally scouted the idea of a federal union amongst themselves; while there appears some considerable probability that the North American Colonies will be glad to strengthen and aggrandize their position by becoming a federation under the monarchy to compete with the Republican federation to the South.
The Separatist party in the colonies has always ridiculed the
idea of looking to the metropolis" for honours; yet there is no doubt in every colony a class of influential men who regret that they receive no adequate recognition in the mother country, while the local honours which they bear would be immensely magnified in the sight of their countrymen if they had the seal of imperial re- cognition. We have before pointed this out. The honour- able" gentleman who enjoys the highest honours in his own colony, coining to ing London, finds himself plain "Mr. —," with little more notice from the Colonial Office than a pure stranger from some country town; and the very man who pants for a di- rect association with the administrative body in the metropolis is sent back mortified and alienated. Surely this is as impolitic as it is unjust. The expedient suggested by Lord Bury appears at the first blush of it to obviate the difficulties of a metropolitan recognition, while securing the substantial advantages of colonial reFesentation. His plan is, that gentlemen from the colonies, who have at- tained distinction among their own countrymen, should be ac- re- Ptllrecr-thia,ouinPr7 OFE " represen tion.aufmaxits colonists idea- tilled. witht .e- iMpeR .nriiis Rixi, iii„?..'ellers are sup- plied with represe them the function d . an lin Aor, A ifftr?. neing them to the .ms, illitkehkiw. Rd 'ould perform for Court and to society. ,,pr t. mesupiitzp,- beg :no question of life peerages,—the coroParati;.s adviintageS or 'disadvantages of granting heractitary peorqcptI.,§1.1 lefttpito ifffy/well be left for ulterior discussion; hut, ..mainIte lx,,ifonAe such arrangement *Mild most usefully supply gir,et `043 -99.4on;lietWceu the imPe- rial influences and our colonial 'depe nplet would. strengthen the popular feeling of loyalty for tlie 0Q, grriountry, and would recruit the legitimate influences of the Go.Teimynt at home.
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