Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-12

exports. number Of factories and in al
most every other item Of note. today the
position is very nearly reversed.
The result is largely attributable to the
rival fiscal policies which for nearly forty
years the two colonies have pursued. At
the end Of that period Victoria found her
population diminishing. her miners trek
King to western Australia and her farmers to
New South Wales, her markets filled with
shoddy and her factories with girls, while
sweating was established in her midst.
Happy Solution.
To divert the catastrophe (which seemed
impending and to find some outlet for the
goods which no one seemed willing to buy,
some new policy was Indispensable, and
when federation was preached she hailed
the new gospel with joy. To the Victorians
1t was veritable Deus ex machina an
unlocked for happy solution of an appar-
entiy hopeless puzzle, which was to save
tnem from ruin by placing the markets of
australia at their feet. This commercial
aspect OF the question was not of course,
me one which appealed most strongly to
me founders or to the leading opponents of
federation, nor, indeed was it one which
touched most deeply the hearts of the
people as whole, but it certainly had an
enormous influence on the trading and
farming classes In some of the colonies
ana In Victoria it played decidedly the
dominant note.
What federation has been achieved in
SI''N "a i4tci SuIUHldl dDtaSOnlSm bred OF
warning tariffs, in spite. too. of mutual
uiStrust born of years of commercial strife
SHOWS that the ties which bind us together
apart. 49,
Democratic Influences
Inc constitution evolved by the united
labors of so many gifted minds is as demo-
cratic as could perhaps be expected from
community which, notwithstanding the
lapor element. Is strangely conservative.
The mere fact that the franchise for both
houses is manhood suffrage, and that very
shortly it IS sure to be extended to adults
OF either sex, makes 1t certain that the
compelling force in Australian legislation
Will be democratic to a degree unknown in
any previous age
More especially will this be the case in
the lower house. which will be elected on a
proportional representation: but even the
upper house will necessarily feel the power
OF the democratic wave. Democrats would
nave been better pleased if the upper house
were erected on proportional representa-
uon IKE the lower, a difference of compo-
s1tion being secured by a difference in the
age or the representatives, as also in the
size OF the celebrates and that deadlocks
between the two were settled by a refer
endum to the people en- masse; but the colo
MES had been vested with self-governing
powers too long to admit of so unselfishly
democratic principle as the former being
obtained.
If the upper house would be able to domi-
nate the lower, the Senate does In the
United States but this evil was happily
averted by the opposition of the Right Hon.
G. II. Reid and the subsequent action of
New South Wales.
Effect of the Union.
The union of the colonies Is bound to have
a very startling effect on the commercial
activities of Australia the exact trend of
which, however, may not be felt for some
years. The abolition Of intercolonial tariffs,
which Will take a year or two to bring
about, will completely alter the internal
condition of affairs. Her foreign commerce
will doubtless expand, and the rival claim
ants for her favors will strain their utmost
to win her regards. But while the impor
lance Of Australia as a commercial factor
Will Undoubtedly increase. it is not in the
domain Of commerce that her influence will
be mostly felt She will be the democratic
leader of the world The great principle of
freedom of commerce, the heirloom of the
empire from which she has sprung will be
applied externally as well az internally be-
fore the lapse of many years; labor expert
ments will be conducted on an unprece-
dented scale: trusts and combines, which
are running the prosperity Of the United
States, will be unknown, and the great So
cial problems which are talked of else
where will be solved on her shores. The
new commonwealth has, indeed, a part to
play in the twentieth century which no
other nation or country could play we'll
as she, and the Importance Of which It
would be impossible to overestimate.