THE LATEST STAGE 261 



intent or false reasoning. It is as often caused by 

 false associations, for which the intellect of the sufferer 

 is not primarily or even chiefly responsible. 



In constitutional problems, too, we are passing away 

 from the purely intellectualist standpoint ; and once 

 more the change began before its psychological import 

 was understood. If we compare the attitude of mind 

 of 1860 with that of to-day, we mark the difference. 

 At that date the tendency was to a complete utili- 

 tarianism. A business-like constitution whose every 

 part had its direct economic use was the ideal. The 

 Monarchy was an interesting survival of a barbarous 

 past, which few wished forcibly to remove, but for 

 which few ventured to foretell a prolonged existence. 

 The colonies were somewhat useless and expensive 

 encumbrances, which might almost be encouraged to 

 " cut the painter." Colour and glow were passing 

 out of public life, and grey, useful uniformity was 

 spreading over all. 



Slowly a change began. It can be traced back 

 through the " Oxford Movement " to the romantic 

 and historic inspiration of the novels of Sir Walter 

 Scott, an Anglian of the North British stock. Once 

 more the idea of Nationality was found to appeal 

 to sentiment, and to have driving force behind it. 

 It was discovered that " the golden link of the Crown " 

 stood for a corporate ideal of the State, which gained 

 real strength thereby. It was less easy to glorify 

 as the impersonation of the nation a bourgeois Pre- 

 sident in a frock-coat still less was it easy to die at 

 his behest should the need arise. Colonies ceased 

 to be regarded as unprofitable branch establishments, 

 and became the Dominions Over Seas where lay the 



