The Dominions and Their Future Some acrimonious but quite unmerited
criticism has been directed against Mr. Malcolm MacDonald for his suggestion in a speech on Tuesday that while nationalism in a British Dominion was good within limits, as an evidence of conscious- ness of nationhood, it could easily become a disintegrating force. The truth of that needs little demonstration, and it is no bad thing to be reminded of it, for we are a little inclined to take the Dominions too much for granted. They have, in fact, evolved rapidly, both internally and in their relation to one another and to Great Britain, in the last twenty years, and the evolution is not ended yet. Canada and Australia, for example, are both wrestling with the pro- blem, which has given the United States no complete rest for a hundred and fifty years, of the relation between the Federal and the provincial governments. In Australia the discussions are harmonious, in Canada bitter. That is mainly due to the personality of Mr. Hepburn, the Liberal Prime Minister of Ontario, who mingles with his champion- ship of provincial rights considerable animosity against the Federal Prime Minister, Mr. Mackenzie King. The corn- plications which the controversy may develop are illustrated by the fact that while Mr. Hepburn, the Ontario Liberal leader, declares himself disposed to support Dr. Manion, the Conservative Federal leader, Colonel Drew, the Ontario Conservative leader, favours an extension of the federal rights for which Mr. Mackenzie King stands.
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