Ly these days when the sympathies of not only the British people, but of the, whole civilised world, have been directed to the Monarch lying on his bed of sickness in Buckingham Palace, the real significance of the bond of federation that links together the ever-expanding British Empire is brought for-h to the light. That all parts of the British domains are one, is seen as well in the solemnity ofa service of Intercession as in the celebration of the magnificence of Coronation.
The King of England rules to-day over a larger number of human beings than any Sovereign in the world, The population in the Chinese Empire may be enormous; the extent of territory in the Russian Empire muy be vast, but by a strange combination of important historical events and the surprising evolution of political policies, vaster territory and a larger population yield to the sway of an English King than to any other Ruler, Scattered is the territory throughout every continent, and the farther from home the greater the territory seems to be; vast stretches of land on the East and West Uoasts of Africa, and the expanded dominion in South Africa the immense sweep of the Anstralasian continent: the equally immense sweep of British America; the greatness of the Indian, Burmah, and Malay possessions: British Guiana; the protectorate of Egypt: the colony of Hongkong; the Bermudas and other islands of the sea, all these acknowledge the sovereignty of Royalty in the little island "off the coast of France." There is at first a surprise and a wonderment that all this territory, with so many peoples, such divergent races and religions, such contrary characteristics, should be subject to the rule of one man, who is only a constitutional monarch with limited authority; but this very constitutionalism of the English form of government, imbedded in fundamental principles of recognised truth, and these limitations of Raya ty, united with the presence and supreme dignity of Royalty, have had their part in breathing into the hearts of even subjugated races the spirit of loyaly and the even greater feeling of personal attachment, During the greater portion of the 19th century, while ministries, parties, policies of administration, forms of government changed, the personality of that Good Woman Her Majesty Queen Victoria, brought a steadiness, inspired a confidence, and created unity throughout all classes, ranks, easyes, races and lands of the one widening Empire of Great Britain and Greater England. Her authority may constitutionally have been limite'—less even than the power of a President of the United States—but her personality and her Royalty, her pre-eminent position among all the great personages of the Empire, held the Empire in one like the heart throb ruling the body. So, to-day, when Coronation celebrations are transformed into the quiet seriousness of sorrow and supplication, the whole Empire, in total indifference to any theory of government, is bound together in tighter ties of heartfelt devotion by attachment to the one man waiting to be crowned their King.
The Empire building that has been carried on by the people of Britain's Isles has had its success, not in any overwhelming autocratic domination, but in the opposite quality, the freedom of the individual and a people. The government centred in London has practically said to distant peoples living under the one flag: "Doas you please; work out your own govern-come to us when you need The ideas and spirit of the Home Government have secured a hold in the Colonies and communities abroad, not so much by official dictation, as by the process of being naturally ingrained, The Englishman, the Scotchman, the Trishman, the Welshman, have left their native land, and begun life in the wider sphere of opportunities abroad. Officialism never takes the lead in British expansion; colonies, protectorates, concessions; " British Settlements," have originated in the expansiveness of British individual enterprise. The settling down somewhere of a group of Englishmen—or perhaps we should say Scotchmen—has produced an English Settlement and then a Golony. The Empire has grown by so much ingrafting of the old stock. It no doubt is true that as time goes on, the feeling grows that the Home Government should do more in "looking after" the interest of her subjects abroad, and that all parts of the one Empire should have more "say" in the Imperial Government at home. Federation and Imperialism have grown up from free Individualism. The King of England may rejoice in the peacefulness and contentment of his subjects all over she world, not certainly because he has "lorded it over" them and taken away their liberties to magnify his Jown supremacy, but because they have gone freely into all parts, under the protection of the Union Jack, and through trade and the force of enterprising civilisation have made
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.