the State as the sole and supreme fountain of all law and organisation-the changes wrought upon the Constitution since 1887 were seemingly in the direction of decentralisation :—until the Local Government Acts, (1888 and 1894), drew the county, district and parish communities, through their respective representative bodies, into direct relation to the central government, and thus effected a centralised system of local autonomy. The fear that had been hitherto expressed that a policy of "disintegration," such as the establishment of self-governing units within the great framework of the State was declared to be, would result in chaos in the administration of local affairs, was falsified; and by the creation of a Board of Agriculture (1889) and by the Education Act of 1902,1 new fetters were forged, which have brought the Local Government units into close inter-working with the legislative body of the whole realm. "Thus," writes Professor Hatschek ("Englisches Staatsrecht," Tübingen, 1905), "did England at the close of the nineteenth century attain what continental nations had for two centuries past enjoyed a hierarchical reconstruction of the official organisation within the internal administration." In this way was attempted, and in great measure carried out, a revival of the ancient communal system (Mark). The latest period in the development of the English Constitution is marked by three main tendencies: Local Government (already referred to), Imperialism, and the Increased Influence of the Crown. Taking these two last in order; Imperialism in its broadest sense, as denoting a closer connection between the various colonies and dependencies of the Crown, is a hitherto unsolved problem. Certain it is that many British colonies desire such federation as would enable them to share in the legislation of the Mother Country; others again shrink from the burdens which such relationship would impose upon them. The first direct step in the direction of inter-colonial federation was the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia-a confederation of the six original States, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania, in 1901. 1 This Act brought the local educational bodies into direct dependence upon the Imperial Government, and was a necessary supplement to the Education Act of 1870, so soon as the machinery of Local Government had been introduced. The Act of 1870 provided for the establishment of a School Board by the parish or district in cases where the school accommodation was insufficient, and where there were children who for some reason or other did not share the education permitted in the voluntary schools. Compulsory attendance was enjoined by the Act, and School Boards were not permitted to interfere with the so-called Voluntary schools, nor could any of their teachers be a minister of any religious sect. This Act was designed as a death-blow to direct clerical influence upon popular education; but recent legislation (School Board Amendment Act, 1904) has largely modified the original scope of the Act by giving the governing bodies of Board schools a more liberal control in the conduct of their educational methods, and one more in harmony with the wishes of the majority whom they represent. The Executive power in this union is henceforth vested in the Sovereign, assisted by an executive council of seven members, and the Legislative power in a federal Parliament. Yet Imperialism, as it is known, does not stop short at purely political federation. A movement, associated with the name of Mr. Joseph Chamberlain (late Colonial Secretary), is on foot to bring the colonies through a Tariff Bill into direct economic connection with the Motherland, and thus to form a grand imperial Zollverein. This project awaits, and will probably, owing to the abandonment of Free Trade principles it involves, long await realisation. ! One great feature of the whole scheme of Imperialism stands out, however, in bold relief; the increased prestige and power of the Colonial Minister in the Cabinet. Round him now centre all the great political questions affecting the British Empire throughout the world. Another aspect of Imperialism is the tacit understanding which! has arisen between the two great parties in the State to regard all great Imperial questions as lying outside the domain of party politics. Thus, both a continuity in foreign policy is assured, and the defensive forces of the Empire, upon which its safety and external prestige depend, may rely upon the patriotic support of both parties in Parliament. Yet possibly the third tendency outweighs the others in importance the increased influence of the Crown. Despite the democratic character of the English Constitution, it has never been denied that the Sovereign in Council has the constitutional right to make his influence felt in the counsels of his Ministers; and where a Sovereign, owing to dynastic connections, is better informed as to the attitude and intentions of foreign Powers on any given matter, it would, within the limitations usage has prescribed, be as incumbent upon him to give, as upon his Ministers to listen to and profit by, his advice. There is no doubt that already under the present reign the influence of the Sovereign has made itself felt to the advantage of the relations between England and foreign countries more than has been the case for a long period past. Such influence, wisely directed, enhances the dignity of the Crown and again makes it a material factor in the Government of the Kingdom. It may be that an enlightened English Sovereign may in the future (as has been frequently the case in English history) again take an active share in the government of the kingdom, and occupy in the Council of his Ministers a position more akin to that of the President of a Great Republic; and that when the dream of a comprehensive imperial federation has been realised, the true bond between the self-governing British Isles and the British Dependencies beyond the seas will be found in the devotion of both to the British Crown.-ED.] INDEX ABBEYS, Barons founders of, to Abhorrers and Petitioners, 484 Acts of Parliament, Private, how Addled Parl., 1614, dissolved, 402 220 to Admiralty, Court of, 156 Agricultural Labourers, discontent of, with landowners, 315 Aids, contributions from the tenant Allen, Cardinal, founds Seminary Amercements, 91, 127, n. 4: Ancient English Laws, 33 Angevin or Plantagenet dynasty, Annates, Act restraining payment Anne, Queen, her dislike of party Appeal, Accusation, origin of this Appellate Jurisdiction Act, 147, Appello Caesarem, Dr. Montague's, Appropriation of Supplies, first Arbitrary imprisonment, Stat. Pet. to Armada, Spanish, 361, 367 Army Administration Act, 503, n. Parliament, 258-264; vindicated Arthur of Brittany, 165; his sister Articles of Reform [1312], 215; Arundel, Earl of, committed to Tower, 1626, 424 Ashby v. White, 1702, right to Ashford v. Thornton, 100 Assemblies, rebellious and un- Assize, judges of, 128 Assize of Arms, national militia Assize of Clarendon [1156], 75, 128, Assize of Northampton [1176], 87 Association of Christian Brothers, 328; Luther's writings circulated Athelings, sons or brothers of king, 23; word originally denoted Attainder and forfeiture for treason Audit of public accounts enacted by BACON, Sir Nicholas, Lord Keeper [on Parl. Freedom of Speech], Bacon, Francis, Lord Chancellor, Ballot Act, 1872, 575; Universities Bank of England established, 1694, Bankes, Atty.-Gen., argument of, Bar, the, Jac. I. attempts to repress Baron," a word of wide significa- Barons, unsuccessful insurrections Barrow, Henry, executed for writing Bastwick, Dr., his trial with Prynne and Burton, and sentence for Ba es, John, case of [Case of Im- Belesme, Robert de, Earl of Shrews- Benefices, John concedes to Pope Benefit of clergy [t. Hen. VIII.], Benevolence, Jac. I. calls for general Bennett, Sir John, impeached, 1621, Berkeley, J. his Judgment in, Hampden's. Ship-money case Bigod, Roger, Earl Marshal, alter- cation with Edw. I., 203, and n. 5 of Statutes under name of, 249; n. I Bishops, the Seven, trial of, 1688, 139, 506; their names, 506, n. Blair, Sir Adam, impeached, 1689, Bland, case of, 1585, 382 Blount, Sir Thomas, Steward, Edw. Bocland, 11-12, 11, n. I Bohun [Humphrey], Earl of Here- Boleyn, Anne, married, 330; Eliza- Bolingbroke, Henry St. John, Visct., Boniface VIII., Bull Clericis laicos, Bonner, Bp., 316 [Commission to, Boroughs, Charters to, by Hen. I., Bosworth, battle of, 173 Bridges, no town or man to be 23 |