Fix this text
THE BULLETIN
Fix this textVol. 3.- No. 106.—New Series,
Fix this textSATURDAY, MAY 23, 1885.
Fix this textPrice—64.
Fix this textThe Bulletin.
Fix this textSATURDAY, MAY 23, 1885.
Fix this textThe Contingent.
Fix this textThe return of the New South Wales Contin-
Fix this textent will end a chapter in the history of the
Fix this textcolony which should never have been
Fix this textwritten. Mr. Baluev ’s interference in the
Fix this textaffairs of the Soudan was emotional in con-
Fix this textception, illegal in execution, and inglorious
Fix this textIn termination. But, however ridiculous
Fix this textthe ending may be, we prefer it as it is to
Fix this textseeing our men return covered with the
Fix this textdoubtful glory of having slaughtered thou-
Fix this textsands of rudely-armed patriots, “rightly
Fix this textstruggling to be free.” For we take it that
Fix this textthe naked men who fell in mounds before
Fix this textthe murderous weapons that science has
Fix this textplaced at our disposal, were as well entitled
Fix this textto the name of patriots as would be the
Fix this textSydney volunteers who might fall at
Fix this textBotany in preventing a hostile landing. The
Fix this textcolony may, therefore, gladly stand what-
Fix this textever ridicule attaches to this abortive expe-
Fix this textdition, thankful that, so far as our men are
Fix this textconcerned, no innocent blood cries for ven-
Fix this textgeance against them.
Fix this text* * *
Fix this textWe are, perhaps, the only colonial journal
Fix this textwhich has consistently condemned this busi-
Fix this textness. At the beginning, when we were
Fix this textalmost alone, and our contemporaries, car-
Fix this textried away by a spurious patriotism, would
Fix this textbe satisfied with nothing but “gore,” we
Fix this textset our faces against it. We have seen those
Fix this textcontemporaries forced,* by the*^miserable
Fix this textlogic of facts, to dine off dishes composed of
Fix this texttheir own words. Every reason assigned
Fix this textfor sending the Contingent away was either
Fix this textthe precise reason why it should not be sent
Fix this textbrdse it was untrustworthy. The idea of
Fix this texthelping England “ in the hour of her need ”
Fix this texthaight have had some force in the case of a
Fix this textWar against France or Russia. Against the
Fix this textBoudan it was contemptible. It was more—
Fix this textit was insulting. When England requires
Fix this textassistance against the Soudanese it will be
Fix this texttime for her to divest herself of her crown
Fix this textand sceptre and, like Spain, give the reins
Fix this textof empire into more vigorous hands.
Fix this text* * •
Fix this textBy many in England, especially among
Fix this textthose who dream of a great confederation
Fix this textembracing all the British possessiens, the
Fix this textdespatch of colonial troops from Sydney
Fix this textwas welcomed with clamorous approval.
Fix this textThey saw in it a step towards the federation
Fix this textthey desired. The English journals sup-
Fix this textposed to represent the opinions of this sec-
Fix this texttion of the country, were quoted volumin-
Fix this textously by the Jingo papers of Australia. The
Fix this textobject of this was obvious. It was for the
Fix this textpurpose of making colonists believe that
Fix this texttheir action in the Soudan affair met with
Fix this textthe unanimous approval of England. But
Fix this textthe vast body of British Radicals were
Fix this textagainst the war from the commencement.
Fix this textThey could not commend the New South
Fix this textWales Government for doing that for which
Fix this textthey condemned their own. Their organs
Fix this textspoke out pretty plainly, too, but towards
Fix this texttheir views there was the same conspiracy
Fix this textof silence on the part of the Australian
Fix this textPress as towards the doings of the Home-
Fix this textrulers on the part of the English journals.
Fix this textBroadly, it may be stated that the capitalist
Fix this textPress of Great Britain welcomed Mr. Dal-
Fix this textey's action, while the Radicals either
Fix this textviewed it coldly or entirely condemned it.
Fix this textto the offer of colonial assistance the former
Fix this textsaw the opening up of new recruiting
Fix this text£robn(Js, and a definite move towards that
Fix this textfederation on which—without thoroughly
Fix this textunderstanding what it means—they have
Fix this textset their hearts. But the Radicals saw that
Fix this textneither the extension nor the consolidation
Fix this text°f empire would bring relief to the starving
Fix this textEnglish. They saw, besides, by the constant
Fix this textvisits of many of our “ leading” citizens to
Fix this textEngland, the stuff of which successful
Fix this textcolonists are made, and they were not ena-
Fix this textmoured of it. To them Mr. Dalley’s offer
Fix this textmeant an unwise proposal to become junior
Fix this textpartner in a business repugnant to the
Fix this textgenuine English spirit.
Fix this text• • *
Fix this textLet us, however, be generous. Let us dis-
Fix this textmiss the idea of Mr. Dalley’s actions having
Fix this textbeen dictated by a desire to “ dish” Mr.
Fix this textService, of* to obtain for himself some mark
Fix this textof his Sovereign’s favour. let us suppose
Fix this textthat his feelings towards Victoria and its
Fix this textPremier are of the most fraternal, and that
Fix this texthe views as mere trumpery distinctions the
Fix this textpinchbeck titles which so many colonists
Fix this textare said to covet. We may also dismiss
Fix this textwithout mention many other motives which
Fix this texthave been attributed to him. By this me-
Fix this textthod of weeding we at last reduce the num-
Fix this textber of reasons for his famous offer to two.
Fix this textEither he honestly thought that England
Fix this textrequired help, or else he thought that the
Fix this textproposal would do something to bring the
Fix this textcolony prominently before the British public
Fix this textand, perhaps, put a few extra strands in the
Fix this textbonds joining Britain to her distant depen-
Fix this textdencies. It is not our intention just now to
Fix this textcriticise the terms of the proposal itself.
Fix this textThe boldness which could offer for imme-
Fix this textdiate service in the field a battalion of in-
Fix this textfantry, not a man of which was enlisted, and
Fix this texta battery of artillery, few men ol which had
Fix this textbeen trained to the use of field-guns, is
Fix this textbeyond criticism. It would be a mere insult
Fix this textto Mr. Dalley’s judgment to suppose that,
Fix this textat the time he sent his historical telegram,
Fix this texthe really thought that any danger threa-
Fix this texttened England. The Russian imbroglio had
Fix this textnot arisen. True, there were some discon-
Fix this texttented Boers in South Africa, who were
Fix this textthreatening to make things uncomfortable
Fix this textall round if they could not get their own
Fix this textway. To suppose, then, that England’s hour
Fix this textof trial had come, because a number of
Fix this textnaked fanatics, maddened by years of op-
Fix this textpression, had risen against their oppressors
Fix this textand killed a dauntless English enthusiast in
Fix this texta remote African town, is merely to state a
Fix this textproposition whose refutation is contained in
Fix this textthe statement. It was not from such a
Fix this textquarter that danger to England was to be
Fix this textapprehended. Thus, to find an adequate
Fix this textmotive for the despatch of a badly-organised
Fix this textbut highly-paid force of a few hundred men
Fix this textto take part in a struggle with which they
Fix this texthad no concern, and which the English
Fix this textpeople themselves now consider to be dis-
Fix this textgraceful, we are forced to the assumption
Fix this textthat the expedition was conceived and car-
Fix this textried out in order that the ties between Great
Fix this textBritain and her colonies might be strength-
Fix this textened—the decreasing fire of kinship blown
Fix this textinto a blaze.
Fix this text* ♦ *
Fix this textWhat means this “strengthening of the
Fix this textties” between tbe various parts of the Em-
Fix this textpire, to promote which political dilettanti
Fix this textand successful squatters spout platitudes by
Fix this textthe hour in London, and in whose favour
Fix this textCanadian busy bodies and Australian vision .
Fix this textaries assemble to cackle and go home? It
Fix this textmeans, when probed to the bottom, that the
Fix this textBritish Empire is to form one federated
Fix this textstate like the American Union. That a Cen-
Fix this texttral Congress sitting in London is to shape
Fix this textthe destinies of that state. That, like the
Fix this textUnion, the various states composing the
Fix this textconfederation are to be represented in that
Fix this textCongress according to population, and that
Fix this textto the supreme Parliament so constituted
Fix this textwill belong the questions of peace and war,
Fix this textland and sea forces, fiscal and foreign
Fix this textpolicy ; while the different divisions retain
Fix this texttheir local Governments as at present.
Fix this textMany other schemes besides this have been
Fix this textformulated, but they are merely tenta-
Fix this texttive, and are so shaped as to be readily
Fix this textabsorbed into the larger scheme, as the
Fix this textcolonies, advancing with more relative
Fix this textrapidity than England in wealth and popu-
Fix this textlation, demand a fuller national life. We
Fix this textbelieve the idea, even at present, to be not
Fix this textmerely Utopian but mischievous, and that
Fix this textits mischievousness will become more
Fix this textapparent as the years go by. What would
Fix this texta federated Australia of ten millions, able to
Fix this textplace a million of men in the field for the
Fix this textdefence of its own shores, gain by depend-
Fix this textence on any power? What would the
Fix this textUnited States gain by mixing in Trans-
Fix this textatlantic broils, supplying food for European
Fix this textpowder, or taking sides in dynastic
Fix this textstruggles with which it had no concern and
Fix this textno sympathy ? And the arguments which
Fix this textapply with such force to the American
Fix this textUnion, apply much more forcibly to Aus-
Fix this texttralia, separated as it is by vast stretches
Fix this textof sea from the aggressive militarism
Fix this textwhich weighs so heavily on Europe.
Fix this textIf ever a country, both by position
Fix this textand extent, was intended by Nature for
Fix this texta peaceful and independent national career
Fix this text— when the proper time arrives — that
Fix this textcountry is Australia. Tbe men presiding
Fix this textover the different Australian colonies do not
Fix this textappear to have yet grasped this obvious
Fix this textfact. Having been mostly born in the
Fix this textBritish islands, they close their understand-
Fix this textings to the idea ot a populous and indepen-
Fix this textdent Australia, keeping aloof, like America,
Fix this textfrom all foreign complications, while able to
Fix this texthold its own against all-comers. They think
Fix this textthe young giant, at present scarcely out of
Fix this textswaddling clothes, will always be content to
Fix this textfollow, aud never ready to lead. But far
Fix this textseeing English statesmen know better. They
Fix this textknow that the ultimate setting up of Aus-
Fix this texttralia in business of its own is as certain, and
Fix this textas much to be desired, as the going out of a
Fix this textyoung man from his father’s house to do for
Fix this texthimself.. The true Australian statesman is
Fix this textthe one who, without any rancour or feel-
Fix this texting of disloyalty towards the mother
Fix this textcountry, steadily keeps in view the inevit-
Fix this textable time when, in the common course of
Fix this textnature, Australians will have set up house-
Fix this textkeeping for themselves.
Fix this text♦ » *
Fix this textIt was Lord Blachford, we think, who,
Fix this textwriting on this subject, said something like
Fix this textthe following—we forget the precise words .
Fix this text—“ Suppose America had not separated
Fix this textfrom England. She would have insisted
Fix this textlong before this in being represented in the
Fix this textHouse of Commons. She would not consent
Fix this textto drift into European complications with-
Fix this textout having a voice in the matter. As repre-
Fix this textsentation would certainly go by population
Fix this textthe present House of Commons would be
Fix this textthree-fifths American and two-fiftha British.
Fix this textHow would Englishmen like it ? How
Fix this textlong would hereditary government stand,
Fix this textor the majority of the members con-
Fix this textsent to cross the ocean to sit in Lon-
Fix this textdon instead of getting the minority to
Fix this textcross it and sit in New York? England
Fix this textwould become the province, and America
Fix this textDR. HERBERT VAUGHAN, R.C. BISHOP OP SALFORD.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239587952
(1880). The bulletin Retrieved May 22, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239587952
The bulletin Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1880. Web. 22 May 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239587952>
1880, The bulletin John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, Sydney, N.S.W viewed 22 May 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239587952
{{Citation
|
| title=The bulletin.
| year=1880
| section=105 volumes : illustrations (chiefly coloured), portraits (chiefly coloured) ; 30-40 cm.
| issn=0007-4039
| series=John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues).
| issue=Vol. 3 No. 106 (23 May 1885)
| location=Sydney, N.S.W
| publisher=John Haynes and J.F. Archibald
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239587952
| id=nla.obj-239587952
| access-date=22 May 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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