Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-28
THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

to be introduced for the federation OF the
colonies OF Australia and New Zealand.
The federation convention, which as
sembled in Sydney, has concluded its
sittings, and the proposed constitution
will speedily be laid before the imperial
legislature for adoption, amendment or
rejection. So strong, however, is the
feeling in the several colonies in favor of
union that little fear is entertained OF
its immediate passage.
The plan of federation has been copied
closely from the pattern of this country.
The several colonies are to be designated
states. The legislature to comprehend
governor-general appointed by the
queen, senate and house of representa-
tives; the senate composed of eight
members chosen by the local parlia-
ments to serve six years, half to retire
every three years. The president of the
senate to be chosen by the senator's
Representatives to be elected by the
qualified voters OF the states every three
years, in proportion to the population,
on basis of one representative for every
0,000 inhabitants, but no state to have
less than four representatives.
The salary of the governor-general has
been placed at the generous figure of
$50, 1000 year; the members OF the two
houses to receive $2500 each per annum.
The powers vested in the parliament of
the commonwealth are almost exactly
similar to those of our own congress
the regulations of customs, taxation, is
sue of currency, etc.
A principal factor in bringing about
this coalition-which unquestionably
needs but short step to republican in
dependence-has no doubt been the
probability of a European war, in which
England might become involved.
Australia, with her 5000 miles of coast
line and 100000 square miles of terri
tory, realized her danger OF attack. An
other cause is her close proximity to
China, and the difficulties which are
sure to arise from the already large Mon
golian influx. The population of the
Australian colonies is not less than
100000. That of the United States, at
the Declaration of Independence, was
about 8, 100000.
The Australian continent possesses an
immense wealth in railways, including
an unbroken chain of 2600 miles from
South Australia to Queensland. For
this ambitious enterprise alone the col
onies paid about $4OO, 100000. The
Transcontinental telegraph, which Joins
the Indian and Southern oceans and
brings Australia into communication
with Europe and the world, is 2000 miles
long. No country in Christendom is
ahead of Australia in civilization today.
Her roads are magnificent. For news
paper enterprise and development in lit
erature and art, her people are second to
none, and far in advance of their age as
a community.
The wealth and resources of the new
Estates" are something OF which they
may justly feel proud. One-fourth of
the wool and one-half the tin of the
world are produced in Australia. Her
coal fields along the coast are practically
inexhaustible. The inward and outward
shipping of one port alone exceeds
2,500,000 tons per annum, while the
value of the commerce with Great Brit
ain yearly exceeds $400, 100000.
The private wealth of Australia ex-
ceeds that of any other nation on the
globe, amounting to e4S per head.
That of the United States comes next
with 939, or $157 56, while that of Eng
land ranks third at 1854. The agricul-
tural and mineral property combined
with the industrial productions of the
last year amounted to the
enormous aggregate of nearly $400,000,-
600.
When we reflect that Australia has
more than doubled her population in
less than twenty years, and that the
first quarter Of the century had elapsed
before anything beyond the merest coast
fringe OF settlement had been accom-
plished, her expansion fully equals that
of our own phenomenal western states.
A recent article in the Forum, from
the able pen of Roderick w. Cameron,
contains the following pertinent re-
marks:
'The significance of the federated
of Australia, as regards
the United States, will very much de-
pend upon the policy of this country's
government. Up to the present time
this policy has been selfish, unfriendly,
and in some instances niggardly. / re-
fer to the refusal of governmental assis
tance to the steamship line connecting
San Francisco with Australia by way OF
New Zealand.
"The chief export of Australia is wool,
the average American duty on which
exceeds 100 per cent. But Australia has
always shown a very friendly feeling
toward the United States, and desire
to cultivate closer relations. She has
been patient under long suffering, be-
ieving that people so astute as the
Americans will discover that they have
erred in taxing raw materials and in
shutting out commerce that under a |
wise policy would come to them. | need |
not point out here that the great repub-
ic stands alone, among the civilized |
nations, in placing almost prohibitory
jariff on raw materials.
Australia wants American cotton,
md already takes large quantities of all
American manufactures but being shut |
,ut of the American market by a prohib-
tory duty. the Australians have to pay |