SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
[Under this heading we notice such Books of the week as have not hew reserved for review in other forms.] Canada and the Empire. By W. R. Lawson. (W. Blackwood and Sons. 6s. net.)—There are many things in this book about which a critic in this country is unwilling to pronounce an opinion. Mr. Lawson tells us, for instance, that the Western farmers who inter- viewed Sir Wilfrid Laurier were interested in the first instance, not in Free Trade, but in elevators, a chilled meat industry, and a Hudson Bay railway to be provided by Government help. But was not the strength behind them the general demand of the con- sumer to get what he wanted cheaper? Then he gives us an interesting chapter on the "Risk of Americanization." We have lately heard much of the influx of U.S. citizens into Canada ; but the question whether these immigrants are permanent settlers or not is, we must own, new to us. Then, again, we hear strange things about annexation by the States. How many of our readers, we wonder, are aware that the State of Minnesota is solid for annexation. One thing, however, is clear to us : that the real object of Mr. Lawson's book is to be found in the last two chapters, "The British Parliament and the Colonies" and "The New and Larger Federation." A " Grand Council of the Empire" is his ambition. Whatever we may think about that generally, it is interesting to speculate as to how Irish Home Rule is to be woven into the scheme. Home Rulers are wont to say that they want Colonial autonomy ; but is the Dublin Parliament to be on the model of the Dominion Parliament or of one of the Provincials ? Mr. Lawson's book is well worth reading. It gives us plenty to think about, whatever acceptance we may be inclined to give to his conclusions.
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