55

F.—B

, GROUP D. — Prominent Clergymen from whom Letters have been received. 1. Right Rev. Lord Bishop of Algoma ... ... ... ... ... Sault Ste. Marie. 2. Right Rev. Dr. Armstrong, Moderator ... ... ... ... ... Ottawa. 3. Rev. Dr. Barclay, St. Paul's ... ... ... ... ... ... Montreal. 4. Right Rev. Coadjutor Bishop Carmichael ... ... ... ... Montreal. 5. Most Rev. Archbishop of Halifax ... ... ... ... ... Halifax. 6. Very Rev. Dr. Milligan, ex-Moderator ... ... ... ... ... Toronto. 7. Most Rev. Archbishop of Montreal ... ... ... ... ... Montreal. 8. Very Rev. Dr. Moore, ex-Moderator ... ... ... ... ... Ottawa. 9. Right Rev. Lord Bishop of Nova Scotia ... ... ... ... Halifax. 10. Right Rev. Lord Bishop of Niagara ... ... ... ... ... Hamilton. 11. Right Rev. Lord Bishop of Ontario ... ... ... ... ... Kingston. 12. Bight Rev. Lord Bisiiop of Ottawa ... ... ... ... ... Ottawa. 13. Rev. Dr. Potts, Methodist Educational Society ... ... ... ... Toronto. 14. Very Rev. Dr. Pollok, ex-Moderator ... ... ... ... ... Halifax. 15. Right Rev. Lord Bishop of Quebec ... ... ... ... ... Quebec. 16 Rev. Dr. Rose, Methodist Centenary Church ... ... ... ... Hamilton. In examining the extracts appended one cannot fail to notice the unity of thought (how r ever variously expressed) which distinguishes nearly all of the letters. This is the more remarkable when it is borne in mind that the writers were widely separated by distance, and had no opportunity, even incidentally, of mutual consultation. This circumstance cannot fail to establish much confidence in the general conclusion reached. The evidence adduced gives the strongest possible support to the suggestions herein made with respect to the practical development of what has been syled " the organization of the Empire," a subject which Mr. Howe introduced to the attention of the people of England in an eloquent speech delivered in the Town Hall of the City of Southampton on the 14th January, 1851, and which he, as leader of the Government of Nova Scotia, afterwards discussed at great length before the Legislature of that Province. Half a century has passed since then. Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa have come to thle front. Great changes have been wrought in each of these countries, as well as in Canada and the Mother-country. There is, perhaps, more need to-da}' than ever before for a unity of ideas on this matter which so deeply concerns all. But if we ask ourselves the question, "Has there been a single decisively practical step made to organize the Empire?" it is difficult to give a direct and satisfactory answer in the affirmative. Indeed, the feeling is gaining ground that there will be but little advance made until some new method, such as that now suggested, be inaugurated. Our Mutual Needs. As an illustration of the great need of an Imperial Intelligence organization such as that which has been outlined, I may instance the following facts. A remarkable address was delivered by the Honourable Alfred Deakin (now Prime Minister of Australia), on the 14th June, 1905. It was published in Melbourne, by the Imperial Federation League of Victoria, in pamphlet form, but as far as I know not a single copy of the address in am' form reached Ottawa until the 25th January, 1906. On that day I read the address for the first time, and I unhesitatingly say that this very able and scholarly deliverance on a momentous question, in which all citizens of the Empire are as much interested as Australians, should have long since been placed before every Canadian. The State cable which, unites Canada with Australia lies idle at the bottom of the Pacific for more than twenty hours in each twenty-four ; it has a complete staff of the very best operators in constant attendance, and it would add absolutely nothing to the working-expenses of the undertaking to have the cable usefully employed during some of its idle hours. The address, containing probably ten thousand words, could easily have been transmitted in one day, and still more easily by instalments in several days, in any case without interfering with ordinary cable business. This thoughtful utterance of an Imperial statesman of the first rank is precisely the kind of literature which a discerning officer of the proposed Intelligence Department would select for transmission by cable soon after its delivery, but it only reached Canada incidentally after seven months had elapsed. Comment is unnecessary. The single case cited is quite sufficient to show how much would be gained by using the means placed at our command or within easy reach. The half-hundred names in the foregoing lists belong to gentlemen who, for the most part, entertain ¥he idea that we should never forget the motto " Festina lente." They are representative names of the learned classes in Canada—men of prudence, men of patriotism, men of foresight. Their names carry with them ample evidence that they are well qualified to speak not only for themselves, but for others, and it is of the utmost moment that the several British communities should be wisely counselled at this stage in our history. The views expressed by these gentlemen may fairly be regarded as the voice of Canada. They are in substantial agreement with the recorded opinions of the commercial men of the Empire, and it can scarcely be doubted that they will be found in accord with prevailing opinions in the United Kingdom, in New Zealand, in Australia, and in South Africa. All heard from are substantially of one mind as to the establishment of a great channel of communication, linking together in an electric girdle the self-governing British communities. They appear to think that it is of transcendent importance to inaugurate an Imperial cable service, which, while satisfying in the highest degree the needs of commerce, would at the same time perform the functions of a continuous spinal cord encircling the globe, by and through which would freely flow every national aspiration, every sympathetic impulse of the British people in every longitude and latitude.