The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-13

our power, is it unreasonable to predict
that just as the United States must now
be considered in any European en-
broglo, so our United States of Aus
tralaSia may, In the not very distant flu
ture, be deemed q factor both in Eu-
ropean and AStatic complications? Have
these conSldera tons any bearing en- for
eign trade, and ought foreign traders
and manufacturers and their national
governments to realize AuStralasia's po-
Sition?''
These are the words with which Sir
Robert Stout, closes an elaborate review
of the position which the new government
of the United States of Australasia occu-
pies in the family of existing states
Within few months the new fcdera-
ton has been ushered into existence. 1t
is as nearly self-governing as any
political entity can be which recognizes
in any degree the jurisdiction or author
ity of any other nation whatever In
somewhat the same degree, but in no
sense under enforced conditions. does the
Australian confederation recognize a SUI
preme power in national concerns over its
political destinies. That it is destined to
remain an appendage of the British en-
N~~N
pire in the same sense as Canada now is,
and is likely to remain, there CAP be no
reasonable doubt. That it will ever, as the
writer of the foregoing predicts, be deem
ed factor in European or Asiatic COM
plications-that is, political factor--can
hardly be accepted as entitled to serious
consideration
1t is as a factor in the trade of the
world and as refuge for tho over
crowded populations of Europe, that Aus
trali STA Wilt influence the progress of the
worlds affairs, and only so in those direc-
tons, perhaps, during the century which
is. about to open. What the distant
future may develop, politically, for the
great dependencies of Britain which have
been entrusted with the control Of their
own internal concerns no man can now
safely predict. But that the component
members of the great political confedera
ton which has been formed beneath the
Southern Cross will achieve greatness in
the direction of the production of the
gress of the human race, has already
been made plain beyond all dispute.
The great requirement of favorable
climatic conditions are realized In a re-
markab!e degree. The adaptability of the
climate to the natives OF Northern Europe
is established. The average death rate of
the several states composing the confed-
Grafton was for the year 1888 1872 per /, OoC.
In New Zealand the rate per LOCO was
9.8. The advance which has been made
in the white population of Australasia
tells even a mere convincing tale than
does the death rate. In 1861 it was less
than 1,250,GGo This year it reaches 1900
Co., The population is essentially Anglo
Saxon, as that term has been exploited of
hate; that is to say it is composed in
greatest measure of the Inhabitants of
the British islands and their defendants
About 1900, COCO OF the people Of AustraI-
| asia are foreign born, and they are dis
trjbuted according to the census returns
as follows: sS9,683 born in England and
Wales; 274,5S3 in Ireland; 1881 in Scot
land; 1851 i'll British possessions, and
only 1O1,6 in Continental Europe and the
United States
1t is remarkable circumstance that
the statistics show the foreign trade of
Australasia to be per capita more than
| treble that of the United States Tie in
terstate trade Of the Australian colonies
is nearly $60.e0O00O annually. With the
progress that is being made. far removed
as the Antipodes are from the stream of
| the worlds commerce, it will require but
a comparatively brief period before it's
! influence as that one of the greatest pro
ducers of the raw material most neces,
| sary to the industrial development of the
world will be profoundly felt.
1t is, however. in the new departures
which have been made in social and eco
nomic principles that Australasia will, for
| 4 long time, possess its chief interest to
| the student of events. There are being
| wrought out on entirely new lines the
Oldest ard the most difficult of the
/ pEopleiiiS WHICH HdFe totheieu the brains
Of philosophers and statesmen in all ages.
In the complex organization of modern
society in the old ands such undertakings
would be impossible. But in the new
rand, where all the forces of nature await
the inspiring touch of the human mind
tc set them in motion for the betterment
of the conditions Of human life. the