, 1891-08-19

aud Tasmania, 146, 100 West australia is,
by Tar the largest of the Australian colo
MES, anu TaSma MIA is the smallest.
ms If The material out of which the new
Commonwealth is to I've made. Sir Henry
ParkeS gives a lively sketch CT the rise and
progress OF the federation movement i'll
Australia. 1t was commenced more than
a quarter of a century ago by Mr.. William
Charles Wentwol tn and Mr. Charles Gavan
Duffy. Its progress at first was not al all
rapid. The idea of federation was entei tain
ed and cherished by a few choice spirits
VINO were moIe patriotic than their fellow
colOnlStS, and saw further into the future.
Among the ahlest and most energetic adj
NocateS of confederation must be placed Sir
Henry ParkeS himself. He is evidently one
Of the men who delight to face a difficulty,
and who feel a pleasure in fighting their
way forward. Federation in Australia had,
and still has, many opponents. The anti
federationiSts held meetings and gave Sir
Henry Parkes and his fellow ederatiOniSts a
pretty hard time of it, but in spite of all OPP
pOSltlOn-pelh apS on account of it-tedeTa-
ton in Australia has made rapid progress.
The Australian Premier deals with his OPP
ponentS in a style which is refreShingly
trenchant, as will he seen from the following
quotation from his article:
at is natural-vhile human nature, eS-
pecial'y political human nature. remains
what Il iS--that the announcement OF this
Constitution should awaken opponents and
even enemies. To begin with the little crowd
of paIOchial aSpirantS, who see themselves
excluded Fl ON the larger arena of Fed raj
politics, what else could be expected? They
must buzz about some object which has the
qualities of being b|Othnutrilive and reach
able; and their delight is in hearing their
own buzz. There is that rather numerous
c,aSs OF peSSimiSts, who count all things,
apart from themselves, for the worse. With
them, a new constellation would be out Of
place or out Of season. There are the we'll
meaning, vino cauno see beyond the things
to which their dull senses have been &C
cust0med and the respectable, who see
all change III the light of how it may affect
their own interests. There are tho rank
and file Of politicians WlthOu t principle,
who are e er seeking to turn occurrences to
their own account, and who delight in mis-.
chief with the una vowed calculation that
some advantage to themselves may dow
out of it. There is the class, which | am
afraid exists everywhere, who decide all
questions 10y their personal dislikeS or pre-
iudicrs. There are the honest prOvinclallsts
who thoroughly believe that the colony
where they have themselves Jared we'll, will
40 UeSl ny SJdu1luS dlOoA Aoul ~ OOhCA
colonies. They say, with a simple minded
stupidity, that what has been good enough
for them, is good enough for others. These
various hostile bands are augmented by
those who swell all noisy crowds III q
large city, and who are always prepared
to cheer any wild and Vituperative lam
guagr. Bat all these elements of perversity
and trouble will throw up no real barrier to
the march Of Federation. Other forces
will decide for the coming nation, and
their discorlant voice will be hardly
heard. Already Ethe question of ques-
tons is raised above the turgid heat of
PARTIES, and in the first parliamentary
divisions prOtectiOnists will sit side by side
with free-traders in the memorable vote for
Australian union"
The Australian feder a~tiOnists have sti3
difficulties to overcome, objections to meet,
and conflicting interests to adjust bat 1t
appears nov rs it the stress and heat of the
contest were over. When Confederation in
Canada reached the stage at which FEEDER
alton in Australia has arrived, when the
Constitution Act had been drawn up and
submitted TO the Legislatures of the differ
ent provinces for acceptance and approval,
the fight may be said to have been over.
The Nova Scotians kicked a little, the New
Brunswickers hesitated, and the Prince Ed
ward Islanders held out for a few years
longer, but the Confederation was quickly