New-York tribune., 1901-01-08
TIE NEW NATION.

II is not, we venture 10 believe, too great a
manifestation of National pride 10 hold that
one Of the most significant circumstances of the
opening of the nineteenth century was the rise
Of the United States into important rank among
the nations of the world. This country had be-
come nominally a Nation dozen years before.
Yet IL was not until the opening years of the
nineteenth century that it began seriously to
get rid Of the mere confederate idea and TO exer-
else the powers Of a true National sovereignty.
By an interesting coincidence the beginning of
the twentieth century is similarly marked with
the rise Of another new nation, possessing some
striking similarities TO this one. 1t would prob
ably be too much to say that the creation of
the Commonwealth of Australia is as important
an event in the history of the world as was the
foundation of the United States. We should.
however, greatly err if we should regard it as
a light insignificant matter. The new ma
tion is a large and potential fact, requiring TO
be reckoned with seriously in the problem of
human progress.
The Commonwealth of Australia comprises
the entire continent whose name it bears, plus
the large island of Tasmania. New-Zealand for
the present remains outside, though it will
doubtless soon be united with the Common
wealth. The new nation thus has a territorial
area more than three times as large as that Of
the United States was a century ago. and nearly
five-sixths large as the area of our entire
present domain, including outlying possessions.
Its population is only 3,717, ,730, or about two
thirds of ours a hundred years ago. 1t is, how
ever, increasing somewhat more rapidly than
ours, and promises by the end of the present
century TO exceed 100000. As for its wealth.
must bear i'm mind that, although it is the
land that was happily said to smile with
harvest when tickled with a hoe, its resources
have as yet been scarcely touched. OF it's near
ly 1000. 100000 acres only 100000 are under
cultivation. Yet it annually produces 100000
bushels Of wheat, s,500,000 of corn, S.250.0o0 Of
oats, 100000 tons of hay 1,346000 tons of
sugar cane and 100000 gallons of wine 1t
exports more than 6o0,0o0,OO0 pounds of wool
yearly, and has more than 100000 head of
cattle and 100000 horses It's mines have
produced more than 10o,0ooo0O tons of coal
and more than s2.o00.000,0O0 IN gold. About
one-fourth of the people are savings bank de-
positors. the deposits aggregating nearly $780,
0o0OoO or more than $40 apiece FOR the entire
population. Australians claim to be the richest
people in the world. in proportion to their num-
bers. Their public revenue each year is nearly
$40 per capita, and their foreign trade, with
over 21oooo0o tonnage annually, is more than
S7oo,oooo00 a year, or $3.50 per capita, while
the railroad system of the Commonwealth al
ready comprises 1900 miles.
Such, in brief. IS the new nation which con-
fronts the world to-day. We should add. with
especial interest, that its people are chiefly of
our own race, speak our own language arc
imbued With large measure OF the character
istic spirit OF this Nation and have modelled tho
Constitution and laws Of their Commonwealth
closely as possible upon our own. It's
foundation and progress appeal therefore. with
especial directness to American attention and