Daily camera., 1897-09-18
UNITED AUSTRALIA.
he Colonies to Be Joined in q
Federation.
A New Government VIII Be 1nsti-
tuted Which Will Have More
Pover-A Vote to Be Taken
by the People.

ton has adjourned until September,
when, it is believed, the final steps will
be taken toward uniting the Australian
colonies in one government. The move
ment encounters obstacles not unlike
those that were met with in 1887 in the
formation of the federation of the
United States. The convention to frame
a constitution for the United States of
Australia met on March % at Adelaide,
and accomplished large part of its
task. What threatened to wreck its
undertaking is the dispute as to the
equal power of the smaller or less pop
uIous states in the senate. They in
sisted, for example, that the senate
should have the power to amend money
bills, as our senate does, while the
larger states contended for the princi-
ple that the entire control Of money
bills should be in the house, as is the
case in England. The large states,
having most of the property and pop
ulation of the proposed federation,
think it right that the house, in which
they have the larger number of repre-
sentatives, should say how money is to
be raised and spent.
Early in April by majority of two
votes, the Australian convention de-
cdied that the senate should not pos
sess the right to amend money bills,
whereupon the delegates from west
Australia withdrew. West Australia
will not at present enter the federation
unless it's demand is conceded. 1t does
not appear, however, that this secession
will wreck the attempt at federation.
It is arranged that the federation shall
be inaugurated if certain number OF
colonies favor it, and more than that
number, represented at Adelaide, have
declared the constitution carried. But
one step more will be needed to COM
plete the work This will be the vote
Of the people. No further action on
the part of the colonial legislatures is
required, but as soon as federal consti-
tuition is framed, it will be pronounced
upon directly by the popular voice.
Should three colonies favorit, 'it goes.
Newfoundland remains to this day
p,uch to it's hurt-outside the Domin-
ion OF. Canada. Several colonies of Aus
tralasia will be outside when the feder-
alton there is first formed. But the
new government will have so much
more power and prestige than any
single colony that the colonies now
holding off will ALL it is thought, soon
see that it is to their advantage to enter
the federation.
With Australasia compacted into
single government, tnere Will remain
only South Africa to consolidate. The
problem there is made difficult by diff
ference of race, but not more difficult
than it was in Canada The French in
Canada were opposed to the English re-
ligion as well as race. but consolidation
was effected there, and the queen now
has no subjects more loyal than the
French Canadians. The Dutch of the
Transvaal differ from the more nu-
merous English in South Africa in
race, but not in religion. In Cape Col
ony and Natal they have fused with
the English in politics, and in the Or
ange Free State the two races get along
together perfectly well. In the Trans
vaal recent wars and the mastcrful
spirit of President Krueger have kept
alive, it is said, and stimulated expir-
ing animosities The unjustifable
Jameson raid arrested the movement
toward perfect fusion, not only in the
Transvaal, but also in the rest OF South
Africa. Cecil Rhodes had, to large
extent, united the Dutch with the Eng
lish in favor of federation everywhere
except in the Transvaal. when Dr..
Jameson's indiscreet act put the fat
in the fire" for a time. But the con-
viction that South Africa must be uni
fed still exists and gains converts. The
logic of events is held to prove the ne
cessity for it. Industrial prosperity
cannot come to that region until the
apprehension of war between the
Transvaal and other states is removed
by voluntary cooperation for the gen
eral welfare.-Chicago Chronicle.