Q. Has public opinion anent the question seen any change of late?
A. Distinctly. The idea is at this moment popular. Ten years ago, what may now be called a dream was regarded as a nightmare.
Q. What is the chief difficulty in the way of Imperial Federation?
A. The varieties of race. A Canadian is scarcely an Australian, and there is little in common between a Hindoo and a native of the Cape.
Q. But cannot much be done in the direction of merging the cosmopolitan elements of the British Empire into one huge family by establishing under the shadow of the Union Jack the penny post?
A. Such is the opinion of Mr. Henniker-Heaton, M.P.
Q. And could not free trade for the colonies, as distinguished from protection applied to foreign countries, be successfully employed?
A. Such is the opinion of several Members of the Government.
Q. Has any other plan occurred to the patriotic statesman?
A. Yes; it has been believed that a general tax for the National Defence would be a bond of union between the colonies and the mother country.