Preface.

This pamphlet took its origin in the strong convictions of the author that the prosperous fortunes of Great Britain and of her people were, and must be in the future, inextricably bound up with those of the other communities of British race scattered throughout the world, and especially with those that are now united under the shadow of her empire; and that a failure on the part of Englishmen now to recognize this truth must lead them to danger and to disaster.

No one can be more sensible than he is of the extreme incompleteness and imperfection of his attempt to consider one of the most gigantic questions of the present age. If he had seen that the men, who most justly command the confidence of Englishmen, and to whom they rightly look for advice on subjects, which not only require the exercise of practical wisdom, but also reasoning from the past and a long look into the future, were occupying themselves with this truly national concern, he would have hesitated to publish any of his own views, however well founded he might have believed them to be. But this has not been the case, and he has therefore ventured to tread on ground that might justly have been considered beyond his reach, if it had been previously occupied. It is his hope, that as even the smallest effort may, in concert with others, have some result, so may this have the effect, either of, in some degree, drawing the attention of the public to this great question, or of persuading some thinker of earnestness and weight to devote his abilities to its solution.

There are many matters, such as the consideration of the number of members best fitted for carrying on the work of an Imperial House of Commons, which have been omitted, although they fall within the proper limits of the discussion in this pamphlet. The author has considered their omission preferable to further increasing its bulk.