ALL ARE ASSOCIATES IN A GRAND 

 FEDERATION 



The term "Empire of Great 

 Britain" is, as applied to these 

 governments, a misnomer. There 

 is no imperial control in the Par- 

 liament or in the King over these 

 peoples. They are associates of 

 the mother country in a federa- 

 tion in which they enjoy com- 

 plete autonomy, and the mother 

 takes the great part of the bur- 

 den of imperial defense. 



Gratitude for the burden she 

 has carried for them, a realiza- 

 tion of the benefits their associa- 

 tion with her as part of the so- 

 called British Empire secures 

 them, and the love of the liberty 

 regulated by law, secured under 

 the British Constitution, which is 

 the essence of their political lives 

 and doctrine, are the reasons for 

 this present wonderful manifes- 

 tation of loyalty. 



The ultimate fact that reflects 

 the highest credit upon the 

 statesmanship and foresight of 

 England is that as she has light- 

 ened her formal hold upon these 

 Xew Englands, and ended their 

 real subordination, she has 

 strengthened their spirit of alle- 

 giance to her. 



It is an eloquent tribute to the 

 living force of a bond formed of 

 a common inheritance of civil 

 liberty and the principle of the 

 rule of the people strengthened 

 by just and generous dealings of 

 the mother with the daughters. 



The supreme test has come in 

 the present war. It has shown 

 that there is something besides 

 the prospect of material benefit 

 or of material burdens and sacri- 

 fice which controls the action of 

 peoples. 



Well may England say, as 

 these brave, courageous legions 

 from the Transatlantic and from 

 the Antipodes rally to her sup- 

 port : "I cast ray bread upon the 

 waters, and after many days it 

 has returned unto me." 



262 



