The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-22
AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.
Another Omitted States" Will Bob Up In
the Near Future.

Another Omitted States" VIII Bob Up In
the Near Future
Another "United States'' will, ere very
long. no doubt, take it's place among the
federal unions of the earth, says the
Youths Companion. This will be the United
States of Australasia. which will be COM
posed of the various islands in the Austral-
asian seas, which from time to time have
been taken possession of and colonized by
Great Britain.
A conference looking to this end and COM
prising representatives from the several
colonies has recently closed its sessions at
Melbourne, the capital of the colony of
Victoria, in Southern Australia.
This important body was unanimous in
its decision that the colonies should be
bound together bya closer tie than that
which now exists. The only tic between
them now is that they are one and all sub
iect to the British crown. The conference
resolved that convention, composed of
delegates from all the colonies, should be
called, empowered to consider and report on
q scheme of federal constitution.
The colonies to be embraced in this re-
mote United States will probably be at
least ten in number, including those which
are se!f-soverning and crown colonies.
The self-governing are New South Wales,
New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia,
Tasmania, Victoria and West Australia.
The principal crown colonies are Fiji, New
Guinea and the Western Pacific Islands.
The former practically govern themselves
"A nearly independent states, while the
crown colonies are ruled directly BY the i'm.
perial government, and may be ikened to
our territories.
That the new federal union will be large
and important one may be seen from the
fact that it will contain population OF not
far from 1900, 900 of people, at least 1,000,'
600 more than the American colonies con.
tanned when they won their Independence.
The mineral and agricultural resources
and the commercial interests of these colo
MES are large and various. The imports OF
Australia alone are worth annually $3.50,
10000, while its exports of wool. meat and
gold reach nearly the same figure.
It must be remembered that most of these
colonies are really great English communi-
ties, peopled by English colonists and their
descendants. and developed and expanded
BY English intelligence and enterprise.
They have become used for the most part
to free institutions, to popular elections
and to liberal and progressive legislation.
They have closely followed the mother
country in establishing broad systems O
education, and providing the people will
every element of health, protection ant
comfort. They are, therefore, quite rip
for taking their place in a federal uniol
among the powerful and growing clvilize,
nations of the earth.
The new nation. moreover, will be essen
TALLY a naval power. Not only will it b
wholly composed of islands, all of whic
are provided with good harbors and nature
naval defenses, but Australia at least, tn
largest of them all, is altogether a series Q
coast states. The interior of Australia is
vast wilderness. hitherto unsettled by Ell
ropeans. Most Australian colonies, thel
are connected with each other only by tn
sea.
The object of the new federal union
mainly that of mutual protection and d,
tense. Each state will help the others
case of attack; a common navy will prote,
one and all.
The new nation lie likely to remain. for
time at least, under the nominal rule
Great Britain. The connection betwee
the colonies and the mother country hi
hastily discarded. Great Britain. as a gre
naval power, now has in the Asiatic Sc
many harbors. where her fleets may fiji
safety and take in coal and provisions.
On the other hand, the Australasian col
MES. in case they are attacked by some fo
midable maritime power, like France. mi
now depend upon the aid OF the strong ar
of the British navy.
British rule rests so lightly on the col
nies that they do not feel 1t a burden. Tn
know that they can become absolutely ind
pendent any time they choose. and I
tendency CT a FEDERAL union will no dou
b. 70 gradually bring shout thar ind
pon6An0o.