Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-24
AustroIiu's Rise to Unique
Place as Nation
BIZ Frederic J. Hasktr.

present time that Australian Foundation
Day, which is January IS, may have more
than passing significance 70 many
Americans. And aside from these con-
siderations. Australia's position among
the United Nations and It's 155 years Of
unparalleled progress as part OF the
British Empire give the land down
under" prominent place in the sun.
This is especially so since Sydney, Aus
tralia, has become one OF the largest
cities in the British Empire.
One hundred and fifty-fve years Is not
a long period in world history. Such a :
term marks less than half the history of
English settlements in North America
and less than the era of the United States
as an independent nation. But the South
Seas were the last to be entered by
adventures and colonizers, and here such
period seems long.
Because the Australian continent was
so far removed from the known paths
and lanes of commerce, few people
thought it would develop into one of the
most progressive and enlightened COM
monwealths of the world. In Australia
were found savages of so primitive
status that they still rank as anthro-
biological curiosities. So it is easy to
understand how they must have seemed
155 years ago. And yet Admiral Arthur
Phillip, then Capt Phillip, founder of
the first British colony, visioned some
thing different.
The first idea of utilizing this newly
discovered land was to use 1t as a penal
colony in order to rid England of convicts.
Capt. Phillip thought otherwise and
wrote: "As would not wish convicts to
lay the foundation of an empire, think
they should ever remain separated from
the garrison and other settlers that may
come from Europe" He asserted that
British law and customs should be estab-
lished in the new colony, and that there
should be no slaves.
Many of the present portions of the
British family of nations were planted
by relatively obscure individuals Sir
Walter Raleigh was far from obscure
when he attempted to found the first
Virginia colony, but he failed and less
known persons succeeded. The same is
true of the Massachusetts, colony, SINH
larly, Australia was first established by
a man who had been so obscure that he
was charity school pupil in London.
True, he was the son of Jacob Phillip
who came to England from Frankfort and
earned meager living teaching school,
but the son, Arthur, apparently received
no advantages.
AT the age OF IS, Arthur joined the
merchant marine and, in 1755, enlisted
| In the Royal Navy. When II, he took
| part in engagements at Minorca and at
| Quiberon. With the rank of heu-
| tenant, he retired at an early age on a
| pension of 81 day. Phillip married
widow who had money, and lived as
country squire for while. becoming In
terested in gardening. The marriage
was not happy one, however, and
Phillip, still young, joined the Portuguese
In the British Navy, still lieutenant.
Those were stirring years and Phillip
rose to the rank of captain, but per-
formed no exploit which gave him fame.
When the scheme for utilizing New
South Wales as convict colony was
preached Capt. Phillip was sent out
with a shipload on convicts, some sup
plies and livestock. He arrived in jan
uary, 1888, was appointed governor Of
the colony and later became an admiral.
1t was in ITO that Captain James Cook,
who explored so much of the American
coastline, landed at Botany Bay and
took possession of the Australian coast
in the name of Great Britain, but
nothing was done about the claim until
Capt. Phillips landing in 1888 So it is
the latter date that figures in Australian
Foundation Day.
In spite of the vision of a great free
country which Phillip had commune
Gated to Lord Sydney, Secretary Of
State, Australia for long period was
no more than penal settlement and a
harborage for adventures. After his
term as governor Phillip was succeeded
by Capt. Bligh, the commander of the
Bounty, aboard which ship occurred the
mutiny that is known to millions.
1t seems curious thing that these
Adventures in wild lands and seas
should come to such tranquil ends, but
just as Bligh died as vice admiral in
retirement at Blackheath, so Admiral
Phillip died quietly in his bed at Bath.
Both men had been chosen for hazardous
tasks and yet both died in peace and
quiet.
Tracing the history Of Australia one
comes upon many parallels with early
North America. The same log cabins
were built, and there developed the same
sailing ship commerce in the harbor. :,
Here and there somewhat pretentious
buildings of stone were erected just as
they were in early American cities in
mcongruous contrast to the primitive
structures
Rather rapidly Sydney lost its first
Identity as convict establishment.
Englishmen and others exiled by harsh
economic conditions prevailing in West
ern Europe emigrated to this new land.
Schools and colleges were founded and a.
culture sprang up. With the discovery of
gold the tide OF. emigration swelled and
other places in Australia became i'm
portant. Railways were constructed and
there arose a volume of commerce of
much Importance.
The comparisons between the settle