National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-10-13
A New Australia.

remarkable communication from q Lon.
don correspondent on the subject of pro-
lection and free trade In Australia appeared
in Monday evenings issue Of the New York
Commercial AdUertiscr. Mr.. John Norton,
labor delegate for the trade societies OF
Australasia, is now in England, on an i'm
portant mission connected with the labor
interests Of the south Pacific, AMI was
recently interviewed on the subject to
which he has paid special attention. He is
an Englishman by birth and was formerly
connected with the press Of his native
country, but, having lived for some years In
Australia, is now completely identified
with his new home, to whose future he
looks forward with anxious confidence.
The confidence is mainly rcposed In the
splendid possibilities of the great southern
continent itself while all anxiety seems to
arise from the danger Of protracted alliance
with the mother country. MIR. Norton Is
the genuinely elected delegate OF 100000
workingmen In Australasia, and his opln.
ions are OF peculiar Importance as follow
Ing right upon the report made to the
British government by Mr.. Froude, and the
optimistic views taken OF colonial fedora
tion by that gentleman In his recent volume
called "Oceanan This scheme for fed
Grafton of the English colonies has been
favorite one with English statesmen for
more than half century. OF late years ithas
riveted the attention of men who were by
no means fond OF dwelling in 'the land
where 1t is always afternoon" Sir Charles
Dixie, If lotus eater, is q very materlallzed
member OF that community, and the results
OF his voyage round the world, incorporated
in the well.known volume "Greater Brit
ain,m form one continuous plea for the
federation not only OF English colonies, but
Of all English.speaking people throughout
the world, the United States included. The
late Mr.. Forster, so well known as "Buck-
shot, was not usually builder of castles
in the air, aud the great aim Of his public
life was to bring about political union OF
British possessions with proportonate repre-
sentationi in the British parliament. HIisproj-
ect declined in his later days, and experience
of the difficulty In maintaining an alliance
with his next door neighbors in Ireland
helped TO modify any enthusiasm which had
previously existed for union with South
Africa, or the great new continent at the
antlpodes. Lord Carnarvon next became
interested In the movement and sent Mr..
Froude upon q tour around the world to
investigate colonial sentiment. Under the
late administration of Mr.. Gladstone Lord
Rosebery got bee in his bonnet on the Oft
recurring subject Of federation, and when
cheeky Churchill has time to spare from
his management OF the rest OF the
world he will doubtless have something
to say OF kin beyond every sea. The
colonial exhibition, opened few months
ago in London, was regarded as decisive
step, and the new project, 80 warmly
espoused by the Prince OF Wales, of per-
manent colonial exhibition In the English
metropolis is supposed to bear the same
relation to imperial Britain that the stone
which the builders rejected bore TO an
earlier structure. But time and the man
came along, and Mr.. Norton, upon being
asked If the Australians take any real in
terest in federation, replies "None what
ever. The English public are deluded by
the rich colonial people who are flourlshing
about in London this year, and who no more
represent our people than few landlords or
stockholders represent the English masses.
These people are mostly wealthy sno5s
who have lot Of money In Australia and
who want TO get iuto society Ia London.
The agents general and the persons who
dine with the lord mayor and at the colo
nial institute are mostly Of this class. The
idea Of imperial federation is utterly foreign
to the thought Of our people In Australia,
and is scarcely ever mentioned there. We
are going to federate among ourselves, and
Immediately we get an Australian federalism
that will put an end forever TO these dreams
Of imperial federation Of which one never
hears anything except in certain circles In
England. So far from being desirous OF
closer connection with England we wish to
have less and less Connection
Being asked If the English connection
was regarded as OF no use, Mr.. Norton
said "England is too heavily burlenel,
and cannot do much for us; nor do we
wish, In view of the coming struggles
which we foresee, to run the risks entailod
by the English connection. We want
fist, to get free trade throughout Aus
tralasia; second, to protect our mauuiac-
turing interests against England and
France; and thirdly, to establish a feder-
atcd AustrGlaslan republic. In short, our
policy Is that Of the United States. We
want Monroe doctrine for the Pacific as
the Americans bayc for their continent; We
want "a stroug federation like theirs, and
we want TO develop our manufactures as
they have done,n
Remembering the long and acrimonious
controversy between John Bright aud Sir
G0Yan DnlIy upon the subleet Of free trade