Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-03
INDEPENDENCE
Under Constitution Like that
Of American Cousins,
Is What The Australian Colonies vim
PraYids For.
They Have convsosd fu q Uatisaal
c inference.

LONDON, March 2 This day, the "a Of
March will BE- memorable In the history Of
the British Empire, when the representa-
aves OF the Australian continent meet Ia
sydney TO frame . constitution for their
federal government. TssmAniA will be In.
GUIDED in this great confederation Of the
Sou hsrn seas, and large shsrs oe New
3uiaea will also helong 60 il ss subordi.
cate territory. Sydney. ~ the mother
city Of the Australian colonies, hes
been well chosen for the gathering. II II
understood that Sir Henry PArkes y III proa-
ably be selected ~ the president Of the
convention. The idea OF federal eonsts-
'ution, with legislature and executive,
sss HE, and to his energy vas due, Ia .
large degree, tho succsssful initiation Of the
mighty scheme. The vsrioas coloaies are
each to be represented by the Premier ar
some other man almost equ>iiy promiaent
1t Is understood that ue,pn will not be
accomplished without dificulsies, and the
principal difficulty is believed to be thu
question al tree trade and protection. Moss
II the colonies are row protectioniat, a.
against each other and the rest Of ths
world, Victoria. especially, 10 ultra pro-
'eetionist. Il 10 believed. however, that
The result will be the reference to the
federal government Of the tariff question.
with the reservation that there shall b.
sree trade between the colonies. The
federal government will probably be 10
Tusted with the customs tariff. regulation
of external trade aud commerce, defense,
posts and telegraphs, marriage aud divorce,
currency and banking, 6sheRies, beacous
aud buoys, quarantine. patents, census and
statistics. The example Of America 10 al
ready being quoted - u the wisdom Of
federation aud the proceedings Of the con.
vention that framed the United States Con-
s,itution are being closely studied by Aus
tralisn statesmen.
New Zealand sends representatives to tho
convention, but stAuds apart, for the pros.
ent, from the union. The reason IL said to
he that the New Zealapdefs believe that,
owing to their isolation, they cannot get
along without British protection aud they
spprehend that the Australian Uaion 10 q
hrss step toward = separation from
Great Britain. This 10 disclAimed by
Australians generally, with the admis-
sion, however. that there 10 considerable
element in favor Of independence. There
is little doubt that New Zealand will ulti-
mstely j,in. The federation will start out
with noe feet Of war vessels, now being
onilt in Great Britain at the expense Of and
for the Australian colonies, 80 that the in.
suauration Of the new government, when Ii
GENES, will be most imposing spectacle
both by land and Sea.
Premier Rhodes Of South Africa has
completed within = few days since his ar
rival in England the settlement Of Issues
which bothered Lord Salisbury for
many months. He has convinced
Lord Salisbury that Portugal IN AZ
rica 10 too contemplate a apowef to waste
any time on and he hss dictated and Lord
Salisbury has accepted an arrangement Of
South African boundaries that gives the
Premier and his company untrsmmeied d.
cense to DO as they please with Portuguese
aud savage. That is what the new agree-
men. which Lord Salisbury has sent to
Lisbon amuuats to and Portugal IL in
formed that it matters nothing to Great
Britain whether the Portuguese accept II
or not.