al Conferences at the Centre in
London. He would learn of the new drawing together now going on both in
regard to foreign policy and military strategy. He would contrast all
this with the spirit of the American Colonies between 1776 and 1782. He
would look back, perhaps, to the beginning of this new era of
self-government, and recall the memory of Canada in rebellion, of
Australia in a state of permanent quarrel with Downing Street, and of
South Africa in perpetual, recurring, chronic confusion and disorder.
He would learn that before 1837 every white British colony was
discontented,[70] and that now every colony was loyal. He would
contrast these two pictures of Empire. Perhaps, then, he would realise
that the true secret of the strength of the modern British Empire lay
neither in militarism nor Imperialism, neither in swagger nor bounce
nor boasting nor pride, but in the gradual development of that amazing
policy of generosity and goodwill which is best typified in the phrase,
"Home Rule."

It is Home Rule that has saved the British Empire up to the present. Is
it not likely that it is Home Rule that will save her in the future?

"Ah! but"--again will come the cry of the critic of the narrow
vision--"look at the South African Union. Is not that an instance of
unionism as against Home Rule? Have we not there in this latest
achievement a specimen of State authorities over-ruled by a central
power?"

In answer to that cry, I turn to the eighty-fifth clause of the South
African Act, 1909. In that clause I find the following powers reserved
for the local authorities of Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and the
Orange River Colony:--

(1) Direct taxation within their provinces.
(2) The right of borrowing money on their own credit.
(3) All education other than higher education.
(4) Agriculture.
(5) Hospitals.
(6) Municipal institutions.
(7) All local works and undertakings within their provinces.
(8) All roads and bridges within their provinces.
(9) Markets and towns.
(10) Fish and game preservation.
(11) The right of fine and imprisonment, and
(12) Generally all matters which, in the opinion of the
Governor-General in Council, are of a merely local or private
nature.

Ireland would not very much mind that kind of unionism!

The fact is, of course, that this instance of South Africa is a typical
example of the principles of unity and division working at the same
time. In regard