THE ,DOMINIONS AND MONARCHICAL FORMS.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] Sur,—From a 'Canadian, point of view, I doubt if it is altogether wise to dismiss "New 'Zealander's " difficulties as almost pedantic. As a matter of fact, it is widely held in Canada, without the slightest suspicion of disloyalty, that when Ministers make the Ring speak of "'My Navy," "lify,Army," " My Empire," &c., they are perpetuating a form of. expression which may be used to create trouble. .For one thing, it has an unpleasant resemblance to .what used to be part of the stoek- in-trade. of .William of Prussia. In Canada the opponents, of a naval. contribution, for instance, with their no taxation without representation," would know how to mitke, ploy of sueh a situation.
Then pgaiu, as to " subject " or " citizen," the. effect of the proximity of. the United States must be taken. into considera- tion. The averege Canadian is apt to be quite worried at times by the proud American boast : "We are not the subjects of any man "—not always realizing haw easy it is to get over the difficulty by pointing out that even the citizens of the great Republic are subject to their laws and Constitution, while we Britons 'have the advantage of possessing a living embodiment of the Crown and coping-stone of the system under which we freely chose to live. But.all the same most Canadians may be depended upon, where a choice is allowable, to prefer citizen to subject. As to Canadian titles,,and the debate in the. House of Commons at Ottawa, that is another story !=Lam; Sir,. &c., -P.
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