The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-18

ry, it is the old and wealthy settlers that
are republicans, and that desire to see the
connection severed with the home government
They have already material prosperity In
abundance, and they now, therefore, look for
the dignity of legislativeindependenc They
have high stake in the community, and they
desire perfect freedom and high station in the
land of their birth, or the home of their adop-
ton. But the great mass of the working popu-
lation-the gold diggers, and all that class
have no desire whatever for change, and regard
politics with perfect Indifference. They can be
appeased at any time by the removal of some
grievance that directly presses on themselves.
The trading and middle classes generally are too
much immersed in the pursuits of gain to think
strongly or deeply Of political elevation. In
Great Britain and Ireland, whatever desire for
a republic exists is tantamount to q craving for
bread and a struggling out Of the mire. In
Australia, the republican sentiment has loftier
aspiration and seeks to develope itself in politi-
cal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The great social gulf fixed
beween the free settlers and the convict class
and their descendants. also presents serious
obstacle to the immediate establishment Of q
republic, with universal suffrage and vote by
ballot.
But there are causes in operation which are
slowly but surely working out the manifest
destiny of Australia as a future republic. The
abolition of the convict systematic introduce
ton of new constitutions into the different
colonies-the abundant possession Of gold and
other precious metals-the great increase of pc
pulation-the rapid accumulation of wealth
and the fruits Of wealth-the natural resources
of the country, boundless and magnifcent-tbe
progress of her commerce. of which an esti-
mate may be formed from the fact that the ag-
gregate tonnage Of the port of Melbourne is
1,O3S,6S2 tens for the current year, which is al
most equal to the tonnage of London in 1917,
more than double what the Clyde shipping re-
presented in 1850; Liverpool, London, and New
castle being the only ports in the British en-
pire having greater tonnage than the chief
port of this infant colony Of Victoria. of eight
cen years standing, and having only 100000 in
habtants-these things will gradually result in
settled population of steady habits, which
will take deep root in that virgin soil, and in
due time grow up young nation, free, and
independent of all foreign control. American
intercourse, every day increasing since Califor-
MIA was numbered with the States on our span
gled banner, will contribute in an eminent de-
gree to bring about the grand denouement of
the political drama. Then shall that vast isla1d.
which, next to the great continents corposinr
the four quarters" of the world, i the largest
mass Of land Of which we have any knowledge
that glorious country, measuring from east
to west 1000 miles, and from north to south,
LOO miles, with it's adjacent island of Van
Dleman's land, nearly as large as ireland,
&c hailed by the United States as a newborn
republic, and great shall be the reoicings at its
birth. The elder giant shall stretch his hand
across the Pacific to his younger brother, who
will grasp it with fraternal affection, and the
result will be firm and lasting friendship be-
tween the two countries; and from this amity
will spring an extension of the same great prin-
cipes Of human happiness and human freedom
to other nations, and kindreds, and tongues, AMI
peoples