IS THERE A BRITISH EMPIRE?

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 106, 31 October 1908, Page 15

IS THERE A BRITISH EMPIRE?

The Saturday Review, in commenting on tho Quebec celebrations, asks ; "As an empire, how does- the British natioa throughout the world now stand ?" and goes on to remark : — "The plain truth is that there is no British Empire. In the strict sense, it obviously is not an Empire ; neither, as it seems to us, is it an Empire in any real sense at all. And wo shall get <io further urttil we recognise this without blinking. This must be the starting-point for future development. We shall lose nothing by looTcing facts in the face; by admitting tho truth. Neither can we admit that there is anything either ungracious or impolitic in bringing out and dwelling on vveak points in the British position at this time of rejoicing. It is jx family gathering, a family festivity ; and therefore a natural opportunity for a family council. No doubt it would not be in the best taste to make an international celebration tho occasion for an enquiry into the weak points of one of the celebrant nations. But at this festivity we are all one as subjects of the same Sovereign ; the defects we have dwelt on aro common to us all ; there can be no occasion for one British nationality glorying at the expense of another. We are not an empire ; let us start with that; we all fall under tho same condemnation."