The event is from the Constitutional point of view incomparably
the greatest that has ever taken place in the Empire. If we cannot yet see all the results that may flow from it, we realize that the foundations of what will some day be a Federated Empire have been laid, and we believe well and truly laid. Mr. Kipling has told us that on the graves of the English the English flag is laid. If our Scottish readers will pardon the use of " English " where " British" is the correct word, the poet has once more proved a prophet. Out of bitter has come forth sweet, and out of what was once called the weakness of our loosely knit Empire, strength. If the temptation to disunion comes in the future, and sacrilegious hands seek to throw down its walls, they will forbear the attempt lest they violate their fathers' graves. We are all subjects of King Shakespeare and may say with his epitaph :- " Blest be that man that spares these stones,
And curst bo he that moves their bones."
The memory of our dead will sanctify and preserve the building that is yet to be. So impressive is the Tsar's Order to the Russian Armies that we deeply regret the im possibility of reprinting it in full. After noting Germany's disdain of the principles of international law, as demonstrated by the violation of the neutrality of Belgium and her pitiless cruelty towards the peaceful inhabitants in the occupied provinces, the Tsar points out how Germany's bad faith enabled her to prepare, and how the good faith and good intentions of the Allies left them at the beginning of the war utterly at her mercy.
Now she is feeling that the hour of her complete defeat is near, and near also the hour of retribution for all her wrongdoings and for the violation of moral laws. After this plain speaking the Tsar states that
" Similarly, as in the time when her war strength was superior to the strength of her neighbours, Germany suddenly declared war upon them, so now, feeling her weakness, she suddenly offers to enter into peace negotiations. Particularly she desires to begin these negotiations and to complete them before her military talent is exhausted."
