IMPERIAL UNITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13996, 31 August 1907, Page 9

IMPERIAL UNITY.

A few moro lectures of the quality of that with which Professor Leacock, of tho M'Gill University, Montreal, delighted his hearers ;ifc 'the Garrison Hall on Thursday evening would do our community good. It is not that we have not an acquaintaneewith the Imperialistic ideal or the nobility of its conception, but wo a.ro apt to let our wider outlook become somewhat obscured, to let our imaginative faculties languish, to assume too much the attitude of disinterested spectator, and to take no active steps in hastening any days of salvation. To hear Professor Leacock's eloquent description of what Imperial unity should be able to accomplish is, however, to be} stimulated in patriotism and invigorated in perception. We cannot afford to drift along on the principle that what is is admirable and will continue to bo, and wo cannot ignore the future. The subject of the future of the British Empire in tho Pacific is, indeed, as inspiring a theme as speaker or writer might wish to handle, but the rich prophecy, of what may bo in days to corae is not to bo

fulfilled through the mere contemplation thereof. As Professor Leacock reminded his .hearers, the century that is y©t- so young is obviously destined towitaies? a very great .change and forward .progress in the status of the greater British colonies, for a, phenomenon is to bo witnessed to-day without parallel in the history of the world's advance. "They saw in every part of the globe that these colonies were becoming great in a way undreamed of." Even Mr Gladstone's astuteness as a statesman did not prevent his regarding Britain's connection with the colonies rather as a matter of duty than as a matter of advantage. Time has not veri-

fied the general belief of a past generation, and self-governing colonies have shown they can exist apart- from the ideas of independence and separation. In these days of rapid transport a few thousand miles are of little moment, llie solidarity of the Empire lias becomo the watchword of the discerning; it is seeu that there is still strength "in combination, and tho idea of Imperial unity has taken to itself a new and wider significance of late years. The' power of such unity, if tho greatness of the Empire is to be maintained and its prosperity to continue, has been realised, and in defence its importance stands preeminent. If, as we believe, the Pacific Ocean is likely not only to be one of the great highways of commerce of tho future, but possibly the sxieno of some of the world's groat conflicts, how vital the interests here of the Australasian State-s, for they cannot go on indefinitely congratulating themselves that they are out of tho area of stress and storm. The colonies have had the advantage of tho protection of the Imperial Navy without.the responsibility of self-defence, but they are coming to recognise that at least they have responsibility in the making of sonie adequate return for what they receive. As time goes on it will be increasingly difficult for Great ■Britain to maintain her present position of naval supremacy unless she finds a now source of help and support. Professor Le.ieock in "peaking on Imperial Unity had thus good reason for making the naval defence of the Empire and the responsibilities of the colonies in this respect the kernel of his discourse, and, provided those responsibilities are discharged in a fitting manlier,'the form their discharge may tako is not of the most vital consequence it may be assumed. There is hope for the future of the Empire in a strong survival and revival of tho belief that the inevitable development of a. national spirit in the great colonies will not choke hut will continue to exist side by side with the broader Imperial spirit. For the rest,

it is 110 doubt tho case, as Professor Leacoclc suggests, that the Imperial Conforonco may be looked to as the most promising agent in a. settlement of tho f? rM t Imperial questions of the future. We take it as an excellent sign of the times that 'a Canadian professor of economics should be lecturing to Now Zealand audiences 011 Imperial problems.