THE ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE.

Press, Volume XIV, Issue 1852, 22 March 1869, Page 3

THE ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE.

[Prom the Melbourne ,c Daily Telegraph. ,, ! The extension of the Ordeir of $t Michael and St George to the colonies of the empire is a matter of greater political significance than may at first eight appear. The language of the Duke of Buckingham's despatch is worded in a style which has evidently been carefully chosen, and is intended, to sound a note which may probably evoke a response indicative of a new and most; important impulse in every corner of the Queen's dominions. "The Queen has had occasion to observe that the constant progress of the British Empire in population, wealth, and enterprise, and the increased opportunities thus happily afforded to her subjects of rendering effective services to their Sovereign and their country." Again—"The Queen, is confident this this measure will be received by her subjects as an evidence of the importance which her Majesty attaches to her colonial dominions as integral parts of the British Empire, &c. IT any meaning at all attaches

to these_ phrases, it ia to be found ratherin r the sentiment which looks forward to the consolidation of the vast fabric, tban in one of mere theoretical independence, separation, or isolation. It savours not of Goldwin Smith, but rather of such an Empire as that of Rome, under an Augustus, or a Trajan, had Borne but continued to retain the guarantees of democratic' liberty. We are plainly told that we can render effective ser-j ▼ice to the Sovereign and our country, and that rwe are integral parts of the j British' Empire; How stands it then ? Let us ! not ■ answer hastily. Let us recollect this age is one distinguished for the ** solidarity of peoples." If, we s*e already conecione of our own absolute freedomy of our growing power, let ue simultaneously acknowledge the grand old race of which we come* end hesitate ere we separate ourselves from its history, ite duties, and its destinies. The last great advance in popular* freedom which "■ has been achieved in England is evidence neither of danger nor decay. John' Bright serves the' Crown. It means much. The Grown does , not rule us, but is merely the symbol of our national greatness. The consolidation of the Empire is clearly a sentiment of equal significance with that of dismemberment. It; is felt upon the wind. The Dominion of Canada,/the Dominion of Australasia, are as the two mighty wings of an immense power, which, moving from either pole at once, 1 will, in conjunction; with the American Union, be to the whole world the promise of freedom in rendering hopeless the intrigues of despotism. But while we ponder these things, we feel also that the Order of St. Michael and St. George 1 is not all that may be necessary to preserve the : sentiment of integrity of the Empire.