believe the difficulties would vanish as they were approached.
There cannot be any inherent danger in it, while we see we have
examples before us. We have the great example of the United
States. We have also the example of the G(erman Empire; we
have the Confederation of Canada, as comparing very small things
with great; we have also the Dutch Republic, the Swiss Confedera-
tion-in fact, without going back to former history, there are
abundance of examples where countries have had to consider these
very subjects, and where they have found a successful solution for
the problem. I apologise for having ventured to occupy your time
so long, and I must also again repeat my apology for having
ventured to touch upon these subjects. I hope my excuse will be
found in the fact that I take myself personally the warmest and
strongest interest in the development of such a policy as will give
me the assurance before I die that my children will remain subjects
of the British Queen. It would even be something gained, I
think, if it were shown that such a thing was impracticable,
because then, instead of looking to this mode of extrication, we
would seek to find out some other. I cannot believe that the
statesmen who have built up this great empire have not bequeathed
ability and talent enough to their successors to hold it together.
The truth is, it appears to be growing beyond the present
system, and beyond the system of government which has brought
it up to this point. Its interests have become so diversified and so
vast in all portions of the world, the influence which it exercises
is so great, that I think the time is rapidly approaching when
consideration must be given to some change in the system. I
think the events of the last three years, and the action of the
House of Commons, have shown that things cannot long be main-
tained on the present lines. There has been a departure, and a
most important departure. In other 'days it would have been
called a revolution in our Parliamentary system of government--
and we know that revolutions never stop-and I only hope that
as the necessity for further changes comes, these changes may
seek a direction which will give vitality and permanence to the
British Empire.