The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-18
..yHlTE MANS AUSTRALIA"

"WHlTE MANS AUSTRALIA"
white Australia is political slogan
OF increasing force in that far of land
We have recently pointed out the tact
that the Australian Government had
adopted an educational test as means
fc: excluding undesirable Chinese and
Jaranese emigrants. The March number
of the North American Review has al
Interesting article along the same line
which makes it apparent why sucn
seemingly valueless device was adopted.
From the standpoint Of relative popu-
lation and area Australia is in about the
Same relative condition as America was
fifty or sixty years ago. Both countries
had enormous tracts Of undeveloped land
and both needed labor in large quantl-
ties to build the railroads, to cultivate
the farms and work the mines upon
which the prosperity of the country de-
PENDED. America was fortunately sit
uated in that she was able to attract 10
herself multitudes Of white citizens from
Europe. But Australia has no such
source Of supplies, the cost of transport
stulOll llOlu thiiiio.SS ~
bi,ive for the very poor. The eNigencles
CT the case compelled the Australians to
avail themselves Of such colored labor as
tliey were able to obtain. This condition
c,eated large population of japanese
ard Chinese emigrants, of which by far
the larger portion were Chinese. This
race, of all others, is the least able or
willing to adapt itself to the manners and
customs of others, and as result Aus
tralia found itself confronted with an
,.ndigested mass of people who neither
could nor would be assimilated. The OBJ
yicus outcome Of such a state Of affairs,
il it were allowed to continue unchecked.
would be labor war. In the event of
such an alternative the white men of
Australia decided at once that the col
ored laborer must so.
This distinctive action was far easier
to decide upon than to carry out. For
Australia, though she has her own trou-
b;es and aspirations, and though she may
tbcr oughly understand what is best for
herself, is yet part of the imperial fede-
IlllOu VI WHICH 1iSiI I1AiloiiA 10 SAAS
head, and though the British crown is
Very loath to do so. yet it has the power
ard expressed intention Of vetoing any
acr by Australian Parliament which
would deeply offend China or Japan. or
this reason the Australian Government
was unable to frame an exclusion act
which would bear the simple words
White 1t was argued and maintained
that an education test, which required
every prospective emigrant to write his
application in English, or some desi5-
mated European tongue, would effectuaiiy
exclude all Chinese and Japanese who
could be brought in TO direct compcti-
ton with the white labor OF Australia.
Eut if it should prove to be inefficient,
then the Australian Government has
pledged itself to take such further steps
as may be necessary.
But the Chinese form by no means the
only color problem that Australia has,
for a large portion of the country is sit
uated within the tropics and the problem
has been how to furnish labor for the
rice and sugar plantations of Queensland
without being forced to have recourse to
ooclie labor. One solution Of the problem
has been the legaliZed traffic in labor
which has existed for long time between
the Government of India and the authors
ties of Queensland. which understanding
-pernaittedtth deportation of Indian cool
les for limited periods for work In Queens
lard. In addition to this supply there
las been for a long time legalized
traffic in South Sea Islanders under the
name of Kanakas. BY the terms of The
,iey exclusion act both forms of Indian
end Kanakan labor are made unavaila-
lie. This prospect has drawn forth for
chile protest from the planters of Queens
lard, who declare that they are threat
ened by ruin if it is made illegal for them
to get labor by which their plantations
can be worked. But it is asserted, with
out intent to compromise, by the great
States that even at the cost OF great
financial loss to the Commonwealth traf-
nc in contract labor must cease and
cease now There will probably be some
srecial compensation to the people of
queenstown.
If Australia will be guided by the mis-
takes of America she will certainly not
ty force OF arms deprive number Of
her citizens of property rights simply
because the growth Of public sentiment
has declared against a certain form OF
property. OF all the cruel and unneces-
sary mistakes the destruction of the
wealth of the South in response to the
demands of the fanatics of the North
was the most unwise and the most un-
NECESSARY The slavery question would
Rave been settled by evolution and justice
rad the North only allowed us to proceed
ai,rg those lines. We doubt not that
there are many in Queensland to-day
who feel as we do that the system Of
contract labor. which is practically sla-
very, is all a mistake But they feel, and
feel properly, that there can be no justi-
ncation in aboIishing by force rights that
have been acquired by law.