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His

Motton,

IMPERIAL FEDERATION!

STIRRING SPEECHES BY REPRESENTATIVE

: CITIZENS !

His Grace Archbishop O'Brien declares it
Insult to be told that Annexation
is our Destiny !

A public meetinp was held in the academy
of music Monday in advocacy of imperial
federaliion.. There wa» a I»rge attendance of
representative citizens and kdie^i. Tbe
platform was handsomely decorated with
Sags and bunting. Sir Adams Archibald
presided, and among others on tb.^ platform
were General Sir John Rosp, commander of
the forces in Britiah North Amer;efi; His
, Grace the Archbishop of Halifax, Eev. E.F.
Murphy, P.P.; Rev. Canon Partridj^e, D.D,;
Mayor O'MuUin, Rev. Dr. Hole, W. C.
Silver, president chamber of commerce; Rev.
Robert LainG:, ex-Mayor Mackintosu, Rev.
F. H. Almon, Rev. W. B. Kmtr, General
Laurie, M. P.; J. E. Cbipman, Judee
Motton, Senator Almou, M. B. Ualy, ex-
M.P.; Dr. Oliver. Coi. Stewart, John F.
Stairs, ex-M.P.; Adam Burns, John DouU,
Captain Rawson, R.JE.; Joseph Wood and
George E. Franklyn. The speeches created
considerable enthusiasm, many of the points
being grppted wiib hearty applause.

Sir Adams Archibald
saiO the meeting had been called for the
purpose of laying before the citizens of
Halifax the aims of the imperLil federation
league. Many present, he knew, had folowed
the history and grogress, of the movement,
bub there were some to whom the snbjeot
was comparatively new, and for the benefit
of the latter he would repeat a few things
that to tne many were familiar. Thirty years
ago the subject cf imperial federation had
been brought to the notice of the people of
this country by the late Hon. Joseph Howe,
whose splendid speech made in the houso of
assembly was not only read throughout
Ot^nada, but was reprinted and circulated
throughout Great Britain. In 1884 Mr.
Forsber, one uf England's most ablu states-

men, submitted to the imi erial parliament a
plan tor the unity of the empire. Sir Adams
briefly referred to othei leading statesmen
wh(/ bar? favored the idea. The ooli.mies
were gebtitg along adrau-ably with the
mother country, bub can this continue lone?
The population of the colonies was increasing
five times faster than that of the parent
country, and in a short time Engliahnion out
of England would outnumbfir those in that
country. Under these circumstances it
becomes necesc-ary that sme arrangement
be made looking towardn the preservation of
the unity of the empire. The parent society
has in it mr n of al) political parti<i3. The
earl of Roseb' rry and Mr. Forster, cwo of
jilr, Gladstone's right hand men, were
enthusiastic supporters of the idea of imperial
federation. Ht (Sir Adams') did not want
to see. politics enter into thu discussions of
the league. They must be kept out entirely,
and hu took io as a happy augury that 90 fr.;
the imperial federation movement had been
entire. J' froe from this. It was not proposed
to put forward at this stage any scheme for
carrying cut the object .sought by the league.
That would come in good time, and afte*"
full discussion and caretul consideration.
No federation, he held, could ever take place
that would interfere with the power oi our
local parliaments. The speakti' referred to
the vase possessions of Canada; thf' people
of this country were beginnirisr to feel that
they wanted to be something more. There
were imperial mattars in which tliey wishefl
to have a share. They no longer desired to
enjoy the benefits without taking a share in
the burdens. Sir Adams in closing, said the
subject was one that made a speaker feel like
dealing with at length. It was vast and all
important. Time, however, compelled him
to thus briefly touch on the objects of tho as-
sociation under whose auspices the meeting
was being held.

Rev. D. M. Gordon

said he did not know what particular object
the oommitoee had in prccormg aooh a

IMPERIAL FEDERATION.

gonierouH sprinkling of clerical ripuakers,
unless it waa t lat tbey being ho far removed
.from politica were L)otiter able to look at the
qtuBtion of Imperial Federation with un-
biased vi?i')n. He suggested aa a fitting
motto for the league Unity, Liberty and
Guarity. Rev. Joseph Cook, tho famous
Atxierican lectarer, bad said D^.at the Sritisb'
Bobjoct who did not take hold of tbo nnatter
of Imperial Federation with enthusiasm was
a Phillistiue of the first magnitude. Some-
thing was wanted to weld more firmly to-
gether tho British empire. He took for
granted that all wiahed to remain British
eubjecku. There waa a time in the biatory of
the various portions of Canada when a desire
to be joined to another country might have
sprung up in the breasts of some, but that
time dad long ^one by. To-day no Cana-
dian statesman would dare stand up in
P£ rliamenu and advocate separation
Ironi tb»'j mother country. Should such a
quefitioii arise he knew not who would be tbe
Kiosu loyal, Sir John Macdonald or Alex.
Mackenzie. And in the matter of English
ooun I'.tiou no one was more loyal than
Edwiud Blake, Wo want to continue under
the old flag, but our present connection with
the British empire baa not tbe elements for
firmnesy. In the carrying on ot internal
affairs tve have the utmost privilege, but in
foreign atiairs we are wholly dependent upon
the mother country. We fe«l more like sub-
jects. The desire is for a elder relation.
And this the imperial fcc'eration league waa
seeking to effect. On the broad platform of
the league all of the British empire oan
Ktond. No distinct scheme bad been vet
proposed. The league was not committed to
any. It seeks to foster public opinion on the
BUbject rather than to place before the
people a cut and cried scaeroe for
adoption. No statesman had yet been
able !;o submit a plan, and only a
dreamer would attempt at this stage to put
forward a fioheme and expect ibtobe. suc-
cessful. There were serious differences to be
met. P^iucal arrangements to suit all the
colonics, would be extreuoely difficult to
make; but not impossible. Difficult ques-
tions would arise in case of war, but while
we might not be prepared to join Kns'land
in an agcrressive war, we would readily take
part in defending tbe mother couatry in
case of an aiitack. Then there was the

?[ue8tion of repreHfutiation in the councils of
Treat Britain. Those were serious questions
which were met at the outset. But they
were not iusoluable. He bel'eved m the
power of British statesmen to handle diffi-
cult quesuons. When the colonial empire of
Britain was first acquired, greater diitioulties
would then have stared anv one in the face
who might have propotsed impehftl federa-
tion. There was the cHatance of the colonies
from tbe mother coTiutry. Thut had
passed away through the medium of
steam and electricity. To-day it was
easier for England to como^iunicate with
tbe remotest colouies, than il) was for
England and Scotland to communicate at
tbe time those two countries became one.
Di^icultiea must not cauatj iuactiviy. We
muBt go on until every stone has been

rolled away, "•elyinsr on the abilisy of our
statesmen to wrestle with tbe mbject man-
fully and Huccessfully. The league was
dping good work in enlightening the pub-
lic. A achemo i f federation to be succoas-
ful must spring from the people. The
people must demand it and the statesmen
must carry it out. Sentiment and opinion
will grow until the movement becomes »
grand eucceas. He had great pleasure in
moving :

That this meeting: of Halifax oitlifehs
desires to express ar.d rocord Vm grAtt"
flcaflon at the rflpid progrosa which
the Idea of Imperial Fedoration has made,
alike In Canada and in the mo( hoi country;
and its confident hope that by contiauoa
exertions on tho part of the League pubUo
sentiment will become more and more pro-
nounced in favor of tho objects which th >
Lea)?uewa8 formed to promote.

Rev. P. Partridse. D. D.,
seconded the resolution. lie said: If I had
taken alarm at the threats of a certain
portion of the press of this city, I should
not have had the honor of seconding
this resolution to-night. But part of tbe
reason why I waa glad to be here, is that I
might proclaim my entire reprobation of the
endeavor which bas been rcade to stamp this
na^fn'fioent cause with the seal ( f party. If
thiiTe is one thing more tlian ano'her which
rotards the progress of tho Dominion to
which we belon^f, it is the virulence, the
narrow miudednesc, the scurrilousness, the
determination to impute bad motives, which
characterizes the party press. Why should
it be necessary bo cover with abase one who
differs from you? Why should it be a tenet
of legitimate pohtical warfare to deny all
prescience, all political foresiecht, all intel-
isctual ability, all common honesty, to those
who are on the opposite side of what af terall
ift an open qnestioL? I came to this country,
Mr. oViairman, twenty years ago, an Eng-
lishman! Brought up in the straifcest sect of
copservatisra. I am free to oonfet's, that
since 1 have been in this country, I have
learned many things undreamt of before.
I have learneid that Britain has colonieii. I
have learned that British colonies have
produced soatesmbu of tho highert order.
I have learned that responsible government
18 safaly to be entrusted to every portion of
this vast empire. I have learned that outside
of Great Britain is a Greater Britain, the
hearts of whose sons and daughlnrt, if they
are only allowed to do so, throb with love to-
their mother, and who regard tbe unity
and stability of the empire as tbe highest
aim of siateamanship. There are troubles in
existence. There are strifes and divisions;
but God rules. Above the malevolence of
party strife, above the contention of creeds
and races; infinitely above the smallnesn of
crotchety individuals; truth and righteous-
ness and justice abide and shall stand for-
ever! Therefore, I, aa a clergyman.rejoice to
be present, I am honored in being asked to
contribute to the forward motion of this
great idea. I rt-fuse to be included by
anonymous writers in the ranKs of thosje who
would "stain their skirts with larty war-

niPEHIAL FEDERATION.

fare." I have voted bh I bftve f alt. Where
there 18 iitatesnnaDlike fttip of paasine: events,
where there is bnldneee and adaptiveness to
the times; where there is fearless disret^ard of
pettiy coudequcnoep; where tberp is the
patriotic aod broad sentitnent which has led
England Bhrough many a dirficulty; there am
7. And I do not hesitate to 'ixy, that where
these thinffa are, whatever loe the name
which the world accepts; whatever be the
color or b-tdges which diHtinfrnishes; there
shall my inflvience help. I refuse therefore
to be ticketed; to be accused of party
manoeuvring; I am here »h a citizen of
Halifax; as an adopted son of Nova Scotia;
as a subject of an empire on which the sun
never seta. Where love of cijuntry and homo
bears rule; where duty to humanicy is the
foremost bhouKht; where opportjuuities and

{)owerp, and historical iinpeta«i drive, there
et us tend; there let us lose purty; theri let

the best minds oi ail shades concentrate.
The federation of this vaaf. empire is a grand
thought. Even those whose narrow-minded
Helfishnesy and party spirit lead them to
oppoHO, must admire ib. Britain is an empire
now such; as the world have never seen.
Alexander's dream was a great one. When

be accomplished it on a very restricted field
he died, and his kingdom v/ah divided be-
tween four, who could not hold it. Napoleon
also strove for Univevsal dominion and lost it
at Waterloo, But Britain's queen reigns
over portions of all quarters of the habitaole
globe. There is no part of the earth over
which the flag of the *ree doea not fiy.
And the tendency of the age ia to draw
all the parts of her vast empire tatretber.
The empire ia already federated in realioy.
When a tew years asro the Russian guns
thundered at the gates of Constantinople,
ard one day's march would have pained them
admittance, never more to retire, what
diove them back from the goal of their
ambition? The hand of a trembling old man,
tottering with years, but of terrorlese
instinct*', which sent the Bri ish fleet up th^
Dardanelles, and brought tha Indian thoue-
aud-j to 6pht their mother's battle! When
!Phigland af^ain needed a belpini; hand and
the scorching ijandB of East Africa were
slaying her Boldinrs, what brought the
Australian contingent across the ocean but
the love of mother England? What took
Canadian Voyageurs up the Nilsj but the
desire to participate in the enterprise of the
British flag, whiub ever waves over t lie op
piHBsed and downtrodden. It is too late to
oppose Imperial IVderation. The sound of
it ia in the air. The mighty proposal has
been launched and will yet ride the surging
8oa«. What the canso needs ia a letter.
Let him be raised ujp.aud take the tide at the
flood, and it shall bear him on to
victory. Britain baa now an empire
such as the world has never seen. She rules
the waves and guides the de'ttinies
of by far the greater portion of the world.
Federate her vast possesBions, gather her
obildreu under one one dag; concentrate
her nnlKJunned wealth, influtnce, mind,
reli^on, civitizing power; and you have the
fulhllment of the dream of toe ageii past;
and the embodimenti of the Incarnation.

There are thosa who would annex, for small
and selfish reasons, for pelf and tnt gold,
this country to tho ITnitea States. (Jranted,
what 1 for one do not believe, that their
petty politic* prevail. Then we shall have
the pleasure, by and by, of swiu^nng along
the United States as w>ll in the gl^rioau
triumph which wiil attend the Britinh em-
pire. For to the Englia!^ speakmg race
belongs the dominion and evaugelizftbion of
tho world. Every thing points to that. To
that let the citizens oi Halifax contribute
their little part. To that let the vast resources
of the British empire conc-intrate their
power. To that great end, fraught with the
blessicgs of civilization and religion. Jet the
high endeavours and the earaest prayers, of
her p^',ople and language, asa-.nd to the
Almighty arbiter of nations!

His Grace Archbishop O'Brien.

The second resolution was moved by His
Grace Archbishop O'Brien:

That this meeting, while reaffirming,
aa a cardinal principle of Imperial Feder-
ation that the control of liOcal Parlia-
merits o%-er local affairs shall rRmain
wholly untouched and as unrestricted as it
now is, nevertheless is of opinion that the
time ia at hand when a federation of tho
whole Empire must be formed in such a
manner as to combine the resources of the
whole i!o> tho maintenance of common In-
terests and an organized defonco of common
rights.

Hia Grace said: The resolution expresses
a cardi'ial principle of the federation league,
and embodied its hopes and aspirations. For
the grand aim and end of the federation
league is to unite in bonda of amity, under
conditions w hich may be mutually advantage
or.B, the various lands which now constitute
so many disjointed members of thu British
empire. These are now like tho dry and
scattered bones of the prophet's vision; but
even as those bones came together and fell
into place at the word of a superior power,
even so do we hope to see] each little isle,
each distant province, each colony and state
of this empire come together and knitted
into one grand whole in which individuality
will not be swallowed up in union, but unity
secured and perfected by the guaranteed
autonomy of each unit. This is our aim and
end. In order to dear away the cloud of
apprehension and suapicion that, consciously,
or unconsciouBly for party purposes has been
cast over this movement, permit me, eir, t«
make a few explanatioua. It ia a first prin~-
ciple of the leagu,e and is e::pr eased in the
resolution that no encroachment la to be
made on local governing power. No mem-
ber of any branch in Canada, or Austraiia,
would tolerate the auggeitioo that we should
surrender by one jot or tiDtle our right of
welf-govgrnrnpnt. No gir; i^hat our lathers
won wa will aaorodly defend. The old
colonial days have passed away, forever; their
:i-<!'call is aa impoasibie aa that of the years of

niPKUiAL fedi:ra.tion.

our childhood. The league in not a survival

of the pa«t; its voice is not Ihe echo of hope
leasly deud sentiroenta: its ori^fanization and
its fibr« arn of tho freedom of to-day; and its
words ar« the a8T)iratioD<) of the widening
future. If we look back, it is only to learn
a lesson on the value of frf- adorn; but wo
look ahepd for inspiration. Our work if for
the future more than for the present. Tho
league is emineutly a progreasive inovenumt.
In this oonofiction I may exp;'e«8, eir, my
individual hope that) we will soon outf?row
one of the remainiug leading HCringH wiiicti
tie U3 to our mother's apron, viz . the
srettinp of a governor general from England.
We Oiin ea .i!y pr-duce occupants bet^'^
fitted for thH position. Aa a p if
respect) n(^ Canadian I own, air, to a cer-
tain Hen«e of humiliatjion when reading of the
arrival or departure of o governor general.
WhRt is only, as 1 would fain believe, Ifp-
oourtiisy, is, I fear, taken neriously by thobe
in England, Let uh hope that all this may
soon be nhanged. Thero is no danger then
of encro.ichmenk on local autonomy to be
apprehended from the league, and thus oun
of the bu,7aboos conjured up to frighten the
unwary is etfectually laid, without the help
of boll, hook, oi cindle. Closely connected
with thin vanishing goblin ia another which
appears to a Of^rtiMn class of our people.
Som*) of those in favor of home rule for
Ireland fear that imperial ft'deration would
retard, or render impossible the attainment
of that object- This is not tho place to dis-
cuss the question of home rule for Ireland;
BtiU I trust, sir, I may be pardoned a pass-
ing reference to it. From my childhood I
have been in favor of it; to attain it I would
bless and adopt every means within the ten
commandments. So sacred, sir, is the virtue
of justice to tne, and the right of national
liberfty, that I deem them cheaoly purchaned
by centuries of suffering. Wi h thece senti-
ments animating every fibre of my being, I
believe and Fjaintiain that imperial federa-
tion would strengthen rather than weaken
the prcppt^ctfi of home rule. My own con-
viction i-i that Ireland's right to self-
governmeut will bo recognized in a very short
time; th&n federation would perfect and
safeguard it. But should my conviction not
be realised in the near future, whft^ possible
injury could federation do to Ireland? Is
not the overwhelming majority of Canada,
of AuBtrnlia and other self-governing
provinces in favor of home rule? And if
federated would not that vast majority, thus
bound together, act to some purpose in
obtaining for their fellow citizens their
proper place; as arbifera of their local affaivh?
Certainly reason, their own feelings and the
logio of events would lead to this.
Hencfl we may look upon this appre
hensiou of home rulera as ;2froundlei;,8;
whilst on the other hand we can conclude
local rights of each factor of federation w'U
be secured .ind made permanent by imperial
federation. But whilst we thus unhesitat-
ingly assert, and are prepared to defend, the
unlrammeled action of local parliament
over local idfaira, and whilst we yield to
none m love for the principle of fri30 reajjon-
sible government, still we think the timo

is at hand, or ia just approaching, when a
federation of the various countries < I the
empire must be made for the common benefit
of its parts. I stiall, sir, briefly dwell on
this point. The oVmervanb student of our
progressiva development nui.it be cnuviuced
that) Canada, at least, cannot r» nr\in much
longer in its embryotic stage of existence.
All its pulses are tbrobbiug with the rich
bloud of a young and vigorous Hfe; its
organism has well niph reached perfection;
and its intellectual faculties are keenly alive
to the grandeur of its deRtiuy, All, I think,
admit I hit a change mast siwn come.
Now, aa we are, I trust, too seniible to fall
into anarchy,one of three courses is open tous
— iilddper'dence, annexation, or federation.
I'ract caliy we are iudejiendent now, so far
as real freedom of government is concerned.
We have all the blessings of liberty without
the cost of suppi rting a moiiarchy and
without the social d.moraliKation of a
presidential cami'aign. 1 take it that the
wiser part of this Domin'on -vill be in no
hurry to exchange this cheaply ^oaiutained
lil^erty, for the very doubi-ful benefits
of a costly independence aa a monarchy,
or for that ns^tional decadence
which has ever dogged the steps
of every lepublic the world hp«i «ver known.
What shall we say of annexaiion? There
are, I doubt not, a few unreflecting Cana-
dians who sigh for annexation, misled by the
catch cry of a vast market for our farm pro-
ducts, and dazzled by visions of untold
wealth sure to fall, no*; like a summer fihowar,
hut like an autumn down- pour, over an
annexed Canada. Men will iiave their
df hisions, harmloHsi ones at times; but hurt-
ful also on other occasions. And some men
too will close their eyes to passing events and
become, not dreamers of a grand and noble
drtam, but fretful bewailers of a pa-st that)
can never return. Let us, as reasonable men,
compare the condition of farmers in Canada
with that of farmers in the IFnited Htatrs.
What do we find? Will any man who knows
whereof he speaks dare assert that our agri-
cultural population Is behind that of the
United States in education, in refinement of
manners, in material .comforts, or in moral
and civic virtue? I am not now arguing, nor
do I intend to argue, from a sentimental
standpoint. I am a Canadian, loyal to
Canada, proud of her, devoted to her; but so
far as the "old flag" argument is concerned,
I leave that to those who may think it a
Vilid onw. It is chiefly, if not wholly, to the
good of Canada that I am looking. If then.
it is certain, as it is certain, that the
Canadian f aimer is fully as prosperous!, aa
free, and more clear of debt than his brother
in the United States, what '.nducoment is
there for him to sink his national aspiration,^
and to become an insignificant factor
of an unoogenial community. Surely
there is none. And yet those who have
been asleep for the last ten or
fifteen years tell of the fabulous prices
which farm products would briu? were we
only annexed to the United States. Sir, the
prices of the pant cau never be realized again.
Fourteen years ago oats bold readily in P. E.
I, for fifty cents a bushel. We had, some

nob!

IMPERIAL FEDEKATiON.

will say, recii)rocifcy then. Yee; bnt to-day
oRtJoaa beb(jnglit) for mu/'h l(^8i than that in
ISew York. Pork, at tbab time, found a
ready riiarknb at ei^ht wnts, — now it can be
btiught for leBH than six in New Yurk. And
80 we miffht go thronjfh theliub of farm pro*
dxiots and we would find that allowing for
the expense of tranajwrtation these products
are nearly as cheap in New York 88 in P.E I.
or in Nova Scotia. And with the Htili
further openir k up cf the farming lands or
weHtern Hta'^eo, the cheapnnirpr of tht; cos!) of
production, and iucroased facilitiep of traoH-
portat'on. it is more than probable that all
the pr")dnct8 of hhe farm will be cheaper in
New York and Boiton than in Halifax or
Montreal. It is time for men who pretend
to lead public opinion to wake up to *he
chanced conditions of the agricultural indus-
try in the past decade; and to the still great-
er changes in the near future.

There is another small section of Caua
diana in fav.c of annexation. Some are men
of intellectual parts, and tired with aspira-
tions of political greatness. They think
they perceive a wider field for the success nl
employment of these talents in an annt .^ cd
Canada. To t'aesn I would merely say: be-
come one with ur; help to lay broad and deep
the foundations of a world circling pow^'r.
lb will afford ample scope for all legitimate
ambitions, and be a work worthy of the
mighti st iutellect". There are, however,
others of thitj section less worthy of re-
spect. They are men who have nob
oourpge to lace great national jiroblom;^, but
think it wisdom to become the Ca?:iandra of
every noble undertaking. These men have
for leader and mouthpiece Gold win Smith,
the peripatetic prophet of pw-iEimism. Be-
cause forsooth, his own liie has been a
dirimal failure,— because his overweening
vanity was badly injured in its collision
with Canadian common sense, — beccuse we
would not take phrases void of sen'e for
apothegms of wisdom, he, the fossilized
enemy of local autonomy, and the last de-
fender of worn out bigotry, has put his
feeble curse on Canadian nationality, and
assumed the leadership of the pruosome
crowd of Mrs. Cumrnages who see no future
for Canada but vassalage bo the United
States. Let them, if it so plfases, wring
their hands in cowardly despair. But are
we, the descendants of mighty races, the
inheritors of a vast patrimony, the heirs of
noble traditions, so poor in resources, or so
degenerate, .as to know no form of action
save the tears and hand wringinga of dismal
forebodings? It is an insult, and should be
resented as such to be told that annexation
it our destiny. The promoters of impprial |
fedf.ration are called dreamers. Well, their
dream is, at least, an ennobling one, — one
that appeals to all the noble sentiments of
manhood. But what are we to aay to the
dreary prophets of fcvil, the decriers of their
country, the traitors of their magnificent
inheritance. They are not dreamers; they
are the dazed victims of a hideous nipht-
rnare, to be kindly reasoned with when
sincere; to be remorselessly thrust aside
when aotiug the demagogue. The prir.ciple
of Canadian nationality has takf.a tio firm

ft hold of our people to permit thorn to mergn
their diBiinot lifn in that of ;i oatlou whone
institutlMH giv», no warrant of permanenoy,
as they afford no guarantee of r-al indi .'idual
and relia;iou8 liberty. Independence then
and annoxation being both out of the ques-
tiqn there remains imperial federation. As
we have shown it does ndt intrench ot local
rights, but pre supposes them, and c;n8ure«
their continuance. We are taunted wi' h not
oiferiug a detailed i)lan of federation. Well,
this taunt simply proves that wo are not of
the school of doctiinarie fools, who thinl: that
a constitution may be written out, somowhat
after the manner of a geometrical dt moa-
Btration, by reasoning from abstract prin-
ciples, and theoretical identities. Th^• man
of theory in .mechanics will tell you that in
such a syRtem of pulleys a power of such a
value will raise a weight of so many pounds;
bub the practical mechanic knows that it
will not. Allowance must be made for
friction, for the rigidity of cordage and fm-
other impediments. And ho in the work of
I<lanning constitutions, the practical wisdom
lo be gained by experience, by interchange of
views, and by a careful study of interests
involved is requm d; not the crude theories
of abstract reasoners. When the barons of
England, headed, I may remind you," by an
archbishop, made a stand for consti-
tutional freedom, they were satisfied bo lay
<iowu a few generid principles, leaviiii? it to
the experience of successive generations to
develop and mould them intooiganio shape.
So it is with us. Wo move nom- on broad
line-; the resolution in h»nd indicates the
general outline of the federation idea, -but
only intellieeut discussion, patienii labor on
the part of men in every portion of thd
empire, and widening knowledge of our
mutuol commercial interests can fill in the
details. All this will come in good time; all
this is fast approaching. The problem of
Imperial Federation w'iU soon bo ripe for
■solution, then it will be solved. Nations
can, if they will, rise to the heiyht of thtir
ilesbmieB. The seeming puzzles today will
be the sport of school boys to-morrow. We
Canadians with our untold sources cf wealth,
;ind onr unsurpassed facilities by i-ea and
land, would be the veriest cravens that ever
disgraced humanity, wtre we to fold our
hand-i in bf^lpless despondency, and shrink
from facing the nat\onal prollen; th:vt con-
fronts us. Placed between the old time
uuages of Europe, and the more fiippant
manners of tb.^ Unitid States, f/e havrt learn-
ed what to avoid in the law.i of eaoh,
and now s'undl forth as the model vi liberty
that is no I. license, unrl of order born of
justice and nourished hv tii ropoect S'or mutual
rights. With all these adv,intng<8 are we
fitted to be, and wp will surely be, bhe prime
factor in Imperial tedsration. Let u? realize
the vaetnefad of our resources, the adv? nfcagea

a couFeqnenc', i/ur

of our situation, and as
responsibility to the human race. The
blessing which we enjoy we should seek to
diffuse; this we c«n do by helping to build
up a federation of autonomous states -united
not for purposes of aggre-i-non but fur the
mamtt'nance of mutual rights; and the
probaotjou of common interests— a fader-

IMPKBIAL FEDf:RATION.

afeion nf whioh jusfoioi and relif^ion Hh»ll be
the baaiH, i^nd w«ll onlnred liberty thj result.
This may be called a dream, oven an all ^rcat
iindtfrtak.OKi bave been ho named iu tiieir
ioitial atat^eii; but It ia what Longfellow orIIr

loBanltyoi; uoblo minda,
Thdt mivtn faltop^ nor abated
Till all that It forpoea, it flnds.
Or what it ounnot find, oro»t««."

1 have rriiich pleasure ia moving this reso-
lution .

O. B. Oahan

seconded the resolution. He said that the

question under discussion wan a momentous

one, involving as lbs solvitiou did the political

dtitttiny not only of the people of the British

Isles but also that of the British domiafon

throutrhoijt the world. It was proixtsed to
lay the fu'iudatioDH of the Bnoannio Empire
upon a bi.ioder foandatiion and to raise
thereon a political sapor-structure which
would s?ive full liberty to all and combine
the resourcen of all for tht maintenance of
the unity of the empire, finghsh statesmen
bad been too apt to lcK>k upon the British
Islefi as compniing the whole Britannic
JBmpirp; and by reason of the very narrow-
ness of their view they bad deceived them-
Melves into believint; that the problem of
looal self nfovernment in their own kingdom
concerned the unity or the dismemberment
of the British Empire. When tboy take a
broader view, they see that the real unity of
the empire u a more momentous issue, and
that the problem of Imperial Federa
tiou involves the question of home rule
inaemnch ai its advocates assert as the
cardinal principle of tb :^fi movement that the
control of local parliaments ovfit local affairs
shall remain wholly untouched and un-<
restricted. The time is at hand when Cireat
Britain must decide whether she will confer
upon the tiubjocts of the crown througdout
the empire au the rights, and privileges,
with all the responsibilities of British
citi/enship; and when the colonies must
decide whether they will accept these
responsibilities and assist in working out the
lo'iperial destiny of the Britisn race.
English statesmen had profited from the
mistake of Grenville and Lord North, when
they had refused the rights of citizenship to
the New England Stales and had provoked
them into working out their own

Eohtical destiny on independent lines,
n England the Mea of Imperial
Federation had received the andorsation of
leading statesmen of both parties, and wa^
now pressing rL.pidly to its own solutioo-
Bnt it was urged that no practical scheme
had been proposed! No formal constitution
could at once be formulated. The constitu-
tion of England was of organic growth. It
bad at firet been a regal rulei then governed
by an anstoornoy and now by tho democraojr.
The problem wa«i to excend this democracy
fo that for Imperial affairs it shall include
not only the British I^il^js but the twelve
millions of British subjects h. Cacsda.
Australia.Suuth Africa and the West Indies.
British statesmen had sobbed more difficult
pvobtema in ooostituldoaal goveromant.

He did not admit that the Britiih
mind had become no enfeebled that it
was now unecpial to the task proposed, lint
it was urged that CanndtanH shuuld remair
inactive, and the i>roblem of their pclicical
de'itiny would reach its own solution. Bat
what the vital energy of the plant was to itc
organic growth.sothe will and determination
of the piiblio mind wa4 to biie development
of its poiitical destiny. The advocates of
Imperial Federation were oonvincod that the
Im[)orial unity of the Empire would prove
nioHt ad vautugeDUi to the Lritish race. They
did not know what pon.iibilitie« might novr
be quickening into life in the womb of the
future. They were educating public senti-
ment. Two pieces of steel when cold or
merely warm could not be welded together,
bat raise thorn to the white heat and they
become permanently united at one stroke of
the hammer. One great evK„ , in the
history of Germany had in a few inontba
effected the union of its desevered dominions
and principiilities. Let the United States,
for instaucH refuse to ratify the fishery treaty
which their own executive have negoiiatea,
let them instead put in force the retaliatory
measure and cul off all Cauadian commerce,
and one such sinf^le act would raise senti-
ment in KD£{land and Canada to the white
heat, and in a few months perhaps effect their
close and permanent federation. In his
Jubilee ode Tennyson had voiced the aspira-
tion of the people of the niother country;

"Sharers of onr glorious past,
QrotliTfl, must wo part at last?
Shal' not we thro' Kood and ill
• leavo to one another stilll
Britain's myriad voices call,
'Sons, be w«?ldod, each and all,
Into one Imperial whole-
One with Britaiu heart and soul!
One life, one flag, one fleet, one Thronel'"

Australasia was reechoing the renly "we
will!" From" Toronto, Ottawa and from
Halifax Canadians were sendini; back the
same answer. Giye them the full rights and
privileges of British citizenship, and they
will unite to consolidate their common
P^mpire. Germany had already furnished
them an illustrious example. Its desevered
principalities and dominions had become
uriified: they had a controlling voice in
Hvvaying the destines of Kuiope. At the
February meeting of the Reichstag, Bis-
marck had vuiceu the national aspiration of
the German people when he said "we
Germans fear God but none else." A still
greater destiny in promoting the civilization
and in raaintaining the peace of the civili/ed
world was open to the British people if they
resolutely worked out the problem of Irn*
periai Federation.

Stipendiary Motton
said the idea of Imperial Federation, as
expressed in the resolution, raight well

tiballeuge the euthusiaatio and unqualified
support of the meeting, composed of the
loyal oitizena of Halifax. It need not be a
matter of enr prise that the di>»
cossion of ttiis subject weald nnoes*
sarily provoke opposition and en>
connter boaldle oritioiam by some who
where .uninfonned on the subjeot and by

HfPBRlAI, FUDERATIOK

others who preferrnd dinntegration to im]«t-
jkoion. But the opi)Of)ition which a«eai1)Hl the
motiveii of the promoters of the scheme, was
oppoxition timt wan perfectly harmlMaK and
one which it would be a waste of time to
ROH^ver. Iff would he a very jfreat noiHfortuna
bowevtir, if the initial Btagoa uf thin a^tatiou
met DO oppoiiition whatever— it would
prertave ahsolnta failure. As a loyal
i'ritiiah Bubjecl he did not desire to
ahrink from the reeponaibility of endorsicf?
the aentimeuU of the rpaoluticm. The
Colonial Empire ia aeeking consnhdatioL—
to become an inteK^al portion of the realm
of England— that will draw towards
t)he mother country in cloaer ftllowship and
union the hehrta of milliona predisposed to
loyalty and aJlecion. We invite that opposi-
tion which will oppose Federation on itrf
ini^rits — wn accord to all ♦■hp un-
restnoted righto and opportunity of
pnblio diRCUHaioa without impugning
motives. The objects of the league are the
permanent unity of the Empire. Tiiaii no
i<ubemo of federation ahall interfere with
nxlHting righta of Colonial parliaments
that the scheme shall combine on equitable
b oift the ret'ouroes of tho Empire for roam-
teaance of common iutereste, and adequately
provido for an organized defence of
common rights. And further adopting
the language of the league literature,
we invite unity of sympathy, interest,
purpose, of every lover of bis country's wel-
fare. But the conaumation of this is only a
question of time. We are aimply asking in
tne resolutions the affirmation of a grand
idea embodying a eentimeni; that will
find a response in every loyal
breast — the accomplishment or which
will be unity of empire in bond of
fviendship and permanent alliance; that will
be ft . gnai antee of peace and consequent
advancement of the human race. It will not)
be until this Federation is so accomplished
that we will be able to realize
the true greatnPRS and magnitude of
the British Empire. Dr. I'artridge
in his address had
with a martial feeling, but
had not committed himself
of war; and if in an
bad done so, it is

inspired bim

he was glad he

to a declaration

ungarded moment he

not unlikely he would

follow the example of the pailor, who
in one of Nelson's battles was found upon
bis knees praying amidst tho fire of shot and
shell, and, when asked by bis officer what
he was praying for, aaid he waa "praying
that the shots might be divided like the
prize money — the largest share amongst
the officers. (Laughter.) He hoped
that the magiiitnde and importance
of this movement would lift our people
above "the mire and muck of party. " The
pyople desire more information upon the
subject. Let the literature of the League be
more widely disseminated — and the motives
UiA principles ot the friends and
promoters of Federation will be
thoroughly appreciaUsd and understood.
He {the speaker) looked upon the Union
Jack, that grand old flag that Hurrounded the
platform, and be hoped that as true and
loyal citizens of this loyal city of Halifax,

wo wonld endorae haarttly the reaolntion be-
fore the audience. Ho closed by quotitrflr
the following poem writtr>n by tho late Hon*
Joseph tlowe on the old flag:

"Beneath It the emblems they ohovlshed are
waving—
Tho Hone of Old England the roadside per'
fumca;
Tho KhHnirook and Thistle the north wiadt
are braving.
Securely tho Mayflower bluuhes and
blooms."

And speaking of England:

"Every flaHhot her gonius our pathway en-
lightens—
Every lioM she explores we arc beckoned to
treat:
Each IhuuI oho gathers our fnturo day
brightens—
We Joy with her living, and mourn for hor
dead "

W. O. Silver
in supporting the resolution remarked that
enough had been aaid about tlie principles
of ooudolidating the British Empire. Aftet
moving the resolution the speaker went On bo
deal with the objections thkt had boen put
forward to the scheme of Imperial Federa-
tion. The idea of persons refusing bo sup*
port such a sohemo because the means of
cfifecting it were not at the present moment
perfectly transparent, was too absurd to
notice. The tiiue had come when every
British subject should have a voice in the
affairs of the British Empire. Heattrihuted
the present condition of trade between
England and the Oolonies to the fault of
the English people '^hfmselvea. He
dwelt at some length on the
tariff, and also d«'alt with the
objeqtions to Imperial Federation on the
jfround of European complications and ox-
^>eB8ive wars, and the objection of tho
Monetary Times thf»t it would be imprudenfc
now after governing ourselves for so long a
period to hand the govern men b of the
Oolonies over to tho British. He com-
mented on tiie trade relations, and said that
the growing trading capacity i.f the Colonies
rtquired an actuation in the relationship of
the Oolonies an; i mother country. Ho con-
sidered it a good omen oo see the ladies
present aa their emiles gener»lly augured
bucoess to anythieg upon which they bo-
fitowed ihem. Ho moved the following re-
solution:

That thia meeting, in view of t)ie bene-
ficial beneflts which have followed from
tho Colonial Conforer.ce, which was iron-
voued at London lant year, heartily ap-
proves the recert action of the Executive
of tho Halifax Branch of tho League in me-
morialiiting llis Excellency the Mar-
quis of Lanadowne. on tho eve of hia
departure from Canada, desiring him
to Invite the govomreonts of the seve-
ral colonioB to join in constitutinK a con-
ference to devise meaHures for the develop-
ment of iocipTocAl trade between the colonies
under their rule, and of all with tho mother
countr.v. and to dJscms suob other j;roposal8,
which may be made, aa will tend to codboU-
date the common IntercstB of the empire.

IMPEUIAL FEDERATION.

.jrrrz::

3s:rrr=-r-:r.c;:

John F,. Stairs,
in Beoonding the reflolution, Maid Innt>erial
Federation wan the grandonb isatle that had

y»% btH»D brouRht forward to be Hsttl^d by
public uiiiniun. He beliuv«d that the uniting
of the ooIonieM into unn Kraud etniiiru would
be inNtruinoutal in tnaklng trado blotter, far
more 80 than to have unreHOricttd rt otprocity.
We wonhl find a ready nale for everything of
Canadian production in the markets of
England, which would require more from
Canada than the United i^tates would,
l^eople imagined that by having
commerciiil union with the Uuitea
States, trade in Nova Scotia would
be more extenHive, but if this great measure
were adopted the results to flow from it
would prove both lucrative and benefioiai.
It IN Eu^-'andV fault that the colonies do not
trade more with the mother country than
they do at present. It was the fault of hpr
governments and (her statesmen. England
ref^ards all EnKli^h colonien as foreign
states, and Imperial Federation will provide

for a tariff rrfurm on the ptrk
of Great Britain whereby the products of
this grand Dominion of ours wil'. oc receivod
into Bngli^ih markets with a much lower
tuJTif! than th« produots of foreign countries
will be received. The (jucHtiou of Impprial
federation wan an important one and aa
soon as the Bchome camn intrj effect the
country at large would grow tji^odperous and
it would be the grandest thing that ever
happened for Canada.

O.'jF.Fraaer

said he intended to speak not less tl>-\a 1^
hours, but after ht^ckiMiig all that had een
said and oonsidoring the patience t the
audience and the labeueKs of the hour, he
would Hpeak just one and a half minutes.
There were clearly only two courses open to
Canada, viz., annexation and Imperial
Federation. The first was nob believed m,
and many objections could be urged against
it. Annexation being objectionable, Im-
perial J^'ederation was tho only and best
course.