The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-02
Australian Confederation.

year and half ago the bank Of
Australian confederation was launched
amidst loud rejoicing over the political
qualities and boundless destinies of the
Anglo-Saxon race. II il now apparently
IN stormy waters, some Of the colonies
threatening secession and the Premier, Sir
Edmund Barton being mobbed ON the
street.
Australia, full Of youthful hope and enter
prise Is the paradise of experiment II tries
woman suffrage, State ownership of rail-
ways, labor arbitration and OF her legislative
novelties. II went confidently into this
confederation, disdaining the lesson Of
canada, with all other precedonts and sure
that ii would surpass them all.
There are two kinds Of confederation
confederation proper IL one; nationality
with deral structure j. the other In a
confederation proper the States retain their
sovereignty. and the Federal assembly has
no power of dealing legislatively with per-
sons, but only with States: nor any power
Of taxation, but only that Of reuuisition for
the special purposes--as "A rule, thcse of
common defence-for which the federation
was formed. The union of the American
colonies during the Revolut ionary War was
a federation proper; il afterwards, bv &C.
ceptance Of the Constitution, became wbat
II now is, nation with federal 81 ructtIre.
The declarations of antiquity, such as the
Ach@an League. were with the possible
exception Of the Lycian, declarations proper.
formed for the purpose of common defence
The same may be said both Of the United
Netherlands and of the Swiss B,Ind in their
original state, though the Swiss Bund has
now become, by gradual cent raliZatio ion. n
nation with deral structure, and the
United Netherlands ultimately approached
the same type, though in a very crude and
disJointed way. II will be observed that
the transition to more complete union,
that of a nation with federal str1IcttI ra
apparently is somewhat arduous and needs
pressure from without. Frankin's attempt
70 bring about closer union of the Ameri-
can colonies had failed, the centrifugal
forces being still too strong. though the
wisdom Of his policy was clear. That of
Washington and his colleagues succeeded
only with difficulty. and had not the way
been prepared by the Revolutionary War.
which enforced continental union. would
not have succeeded at all Canadian con-
federation commenced with the union Of
the two provinces, Upper and Lower Cam
ada, now Ontario and Quebec. after the
twofold instruction Of 1887 It was
hoped by Lord Durham. the author Of thu,
measure. that in the union the French ele-
ment would he swamped by its British part
ner. That hope was fooled The actual
result was chronic struggle between the
two political parties, based. one on the
British, the other on the French province
by which Government was AZ last brought
10 deadlock. From that dilemma escape
was found in "a union Of all the North Ameri-
can colonies of Great Britain under the
form of a nation with a federal structure.
Into this the maritime colonies came. no,
without hesitation, Nova Scotia being
dragged in by intrigue; nor is the union
even now quite SO perfect AZ might he
desired, the maritime colonies. still retain
ing residuum of centrifugal force and
requiring special Inducements in the way
of appropriations to hold them together in
the support Of Dominion Government.
Prudence might have whispered into
Australa's ear the difficulties which she
would encounter in forming AT once n
confederation of the closer kind, and have
suggested, as the first step, a federal
council for such purposes a. federal de-
fence and intercoinmunication leaving ia
each colony its political autonomy and it's
own tariff. The commercial and economi-
cal circumstances of the colonies vary in
some degree with their ltitudo. In their
fiscal policy they have widely differed
Victoria being protectionist while New
South Wales has been free trade. There
seems also to he a difference in their policy
with respect TO imported labor. But the
political architects of Australia had no
mi-giving. The results AT present are
disappointment and a critical situation,
though we may be pretty sure that what
has been done with so much difficulty and
c'lat will not he undonc, and that while
trouble may still be in store for Australian
~ atesmcn. threats of secession will prcs
emily be heard no more.
Meantime the projectors Of imperial
federation here in Canada would appear
to have received n practical warning
The members of the Australian federation
are identical in race, in political character
and institutions, in geographical posi-.
ton. in general commercial interest. not
withstandinc the shFdas of economical
difference, as well as in the special peril
which is apprehended from the vicinity
of the yellow races. They understand
each Others affairs and sentiments, thew
read each others newspapers r. never
theles-. they cannot get on easily together
what prospect would there be of harmony
among the members of "A confederation
embracing Great Britain Ireland. Canada
British ard French. ustralia New Zealand
HindoStan and the West Indies. with all
their varieties of race, language. geo
graphical position. commercial interest
and military liabilities, each of them oven
the British colonies ignorant of each others
concerns and sentiments? When we ask
for working plan of Imperial federation
we are told that cut-and-drv scheme
Is not 10 be expected that We must per
severe in proDaRatirg the sentiment which
IN time will give birth to plan. The propa-
ra,i ion Of the sentiment has now been ooinp
on for at least thirty years, vet no plan has
been born. GoLDwIN SMITH.
TORONTO, Oct, II. 1902
Oaths OF the Crowd.
To THE EpIroR OF THE SuN-S,r. Jerry baldwin