The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-09-27
the dead of night and drags them to


destruction.
1t is true, that among the more
northernly tribes, Totemistic form
of worship is found, but in my
opinion those more northernly tribes
are not pure Australian atorigines,
but that they contain a mixture of
Malayan stock. They have form of
commune" based on Totem kinship,
and do not marry their Totem rela-
tives. They are also slightly cleaner.
This, however, is only in degree. 1t
probably would be more correct to say
they are a shade less dirty than the
rest. Some of the natives-not all by
any means-pOSsess the faculty of
throwing crooked stick, called a
"boomerang," in such manner that
after describing an apparent parabola
in the air, it suddenly returns and falls
near the thrower.
Australia is, however, white mans
country and is intended to be kept as
such in spite of any Anglo-Japanese
treaty, or any other complication with
which imperial Britain may see fit to
burden herself. Upon this point, all
Australians are united and positively
refuse to allow that issue-i. e., coloni-
cation of even part of Australia by
any Asiatic race, to be used as pawn
in the game of international politics.
The laws against the admission of
Asiatics are strong, and are rigidly en-
forced. In effect, the Australian says
to the British imperialist: "We will
fight, and if need be die, for the empire;
but you shall not, now, or ever, place
Cinnamon or Japanese among US to
contamirate our moral atmosphere, or
to enter into competition with our
| labor classes, and to the alluring ad-
vances of Chamberlain to enter into
an all British Zolverein." They say:
"Retro Null Sathan0s."
Of the many social and economic
problems worked ont in Australia I
will merely mention postal savings
banks, government ownership of trans
portatiOn, government insurance, and
last, but not least, old age pensions for
working men. If the Australians had
done nothing but the last. e., the
recognition of the fact, that the labor
| ing man, who has contributed to the
community life of toll, has right
to be supported by the community
during his declining years, they would
| deserve the worlds thanks. For after
all, this is only what every household
does for its horse, or its dog, in any
part of the civilized world. You don't
allow your old horse to die of starva-
ton, after he has ceased to be of use,
nor, if you have spark of real manli-
ness about you, do you say: swell, I
have paid him his wages of corn and
oats regularly every day he worked,
now that he can't work any more, L
shouldn't pay him." No, you don't say
that, but that is precisely what state
or community says when it neglects
or refuses to provide for the old age of
the men who toiled for it; for after all,
every man who works, and, directly, or
indirectly, produces anything, be it
only tags for chewing tobacco, adds to
the wealth and comfort of the COM
munity, and in reality works for the
community, as we'll as for his direct
employer. Some will object and say
that this is soclalistic doctrine. Well,
if it is socialistic to assert that labor
ing man should receive the same con-
sideratiOn as your horse, then I am
socialist and am proud of it.
Australia, now federation, was
formerly loose group of colonies, of
which Victoria and New South Wales
were the most prominent. Both of
these were originally settled by con-
victs, and are largely inhabited by
these descendants today. The old cry,
"What good can come of a Nazarene"
is answered again by these people.
They hold up today for the inspection
of the world-not a perfect govern
ment, for they are human, but yet one
which every civilized nation is striving
to initiate in one or more of its essen
tials. Even our grand and glorious
republic took unto itself, the Austral-
ian system of ballot, and several states,
notably Illinois, have adopted the
/ Continued on page four.)