Fix this text
THE BULLETIN
Fix this textVol 3 —No. 133—New Series.
Fix this textSATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1885
Fix this textrno«—64.
Fix this textThe Bu[!etin.
Fix this textSATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1886.
Fix this textSir John Robertson on the Federal Bill.
Fix this textIn the speech terminating with the opinion
Fix this textthat the present Government was quite un-
Fix this textworthy of confidence, Sir John Robertson
Fix this textis credited with having said:—
Fix this text“ The inoompent men recently governing: the
Fix this textcountry had attempted to Introduce a Federal
Fix this textBill, and they only had to thank the Melbourne
Fix this textCup for having escaped the passing of that 8111.
Fix this textNothing prevented that Bill becoming law but
Fix this textthe Melbourne Cup, for had it not been for that
Fix this textevent the measure would have passed by a ma-
Fix this textjority of 11. If that Bill bad passed they would
Fix this texthave been bound to the other colonies hand and
Fix this textfoot.”
Fix this textIt would appear from this that New South
Fix this textWales owes the preservation of her auto-
Fix this textnomy to a horse-race in a neighbouring
Fix this textcolony. It would further seem that a career
Fix this textof political isolation is that on which Sir
Fix this textJohn and his school would launch their
Fix this textadopted country if they had their way
Fix this textWith the distant cousins on the other side
Fix this textof the globe they would willingly enter into
Fix this textpartnership while holding aloof from any
Fix this textrapprochement towards the next of kin at
Fix this texttheir doors. We, on the other hand, hold
Fix this textthat all other losses resulting from the Mel-
Fix this textbourne races of 1884 were trifling compared
Fix this textwith the loss of the FeJeral Bill; that any-
Fix this textthing likely to weaken the aggregative and
Fix this textstrengthen the segregative tendencies of
Fix this textthe colonies towards each other is to be de-
Fix this textplored, and that the time is ripe for laying
Fix this textthe foundations of that mutual good-will,
Fix this textwithout which the well being of coming
Fix this textgenerations of Australians will be gravely
Fix this textimperilled.
Fix this text• * •
Fix this textIn a nation’s career geographical position
Fix this textis the chief factor. Some countries are
Fix this textfitted to go alone. Their position, in fact,
Fix this textforces them to depend entirely on them-
Fix this textselves. Take New Z-aland, for instance.
Fix this textShe is of sufficient size, and possesses natural
Fix this textresources of sufficient extent to enable her
Fix this textto look to the future with confidence. Her
Fix this textsituation, again, with no land of any extent
Fix this textwithin a thousand miles of her coasts, Is an
Fix this textadditional reason why she should pursue a
Fix this textcareer of independence. New Zealand
Fix this textstatesmen, recognising all this, were, there-
Fix this textfore, quite right in declining to have their
Fix this textisland’s political development dependent,
Fix this texthowever slightly, on a country which could
Fix this textonly be reached by a considerable water
Fix this textjourney. Thus their rejection of the Federal
Fix this textEnabling Bill was the outcome of sound
Fix this textcommon-sens?. But the reasoning so con-
Fix this textclusive when applied to New Zealand loses
Fix this textall force when applied to New Houth Wales.
Fix this textInto the gap formed by Victoria, South Aus-
Fix this texttralia, and Queensland, the colony of New
Fix this textSouth Wales is wedged much as Germany is
Fix this textinto that formed by France, Austria, and
Fix this textRussia, or, to use an illustration better
Fix this textsuited for our purpose, as Pennsylvania
Fix this textinto the space left by New York, Virginia,
Fix this textand Ohio. That Australia is, willing or not,
Fix this textapproaching the goal of complete independ-
Fix this textence can be seen by any person possessing or-
Fix this textdinary discernment coupled with a capacity
Fix this textfor rising above the dull atmosphere of
Fix this textnational prejudice. It is inevitable that it
Fix this textshould be so. Nothing short of an independ-
Fix this textent national life will satisfy a powerful and
Fix this textprogressive people. To suppose that the
Fix this textAustralia of sixteen or twenty millions of
Fix this textpeople bred in Democracy will be content
Fix this textto remain an outlying province of an
Fix this textempire, instead of starling business on its
Fix this textowu account, is as absurd as to suppose that
Fix this textAmerica, with its sixty millions of people,
Fix this textwould be a British colony to-day if George
Fix this text111. had fo I lc red the advice of Chatham
Fix this textrather than of North. Leaving American
Fix this textaspirations out of the question altogether,
Fix this textEngland, if only for her own safety, would
Fix this texthave been long since obliged to sever the
Fix this textconnection. British statesmen see all this
Fix this textnow. They see, too, that a populous Aus-
Fix this texttralia necessarily means an independent
Fix this textAustralia. But, while recognising this, they
Fix this textsee no reason why the political bond should
Fix this textbe snapped abruptly, and so—just as indul-
Fix this textgent mothers keep their children amused
Fix this textwith rattles and fairy tales, knowing that
Fix this textthe little ones will get sense in time—new
Fix this textorders of knighthood, for which grey-headed
Fix this textmen greedily strive, take the place of the
Fix this textchildish rattles, while the fairy tales are
Fix this textsuperseded by the visionary project of
Fix this text“ ImperialjFederation.”
Fix this textIt may be said that the subject of Aus-
Fix this texttralian independence is of no immediate
Fix this textconcern—that when the time comes our
Fix this textchildren will know how to act. But just as
Fix this texta child’s youth may bo warped, so may a
Fix this textcountry’s. National prejudices last long.
Fix this textIf, by and bye, New South Wales finds her-
Fix this textself hemmed in on three sides by a prosper-
Fix this textous confederation from which she sulkily
Fix this textholds aloof, she will have to thank the
Fix this textRobertsons and Pabksses who had access
Fix this textto her youthful ear, aud filled her mind
Fix this textwith vague suspicions regarding her neigh-
Fix this textbours. “ If that Bill had passed they would
Fix this texthave been bound to the other colonies hand
Fix this textand foot.” This is the pernicious lesson
Fix this texttaught by the Opposition leader. Of course
Fix this textNew South Wales would be no more “ bound
Fix this texthand and foot,” and placed at the mercy of
Fix this textthe other colonies, than the State of Dela-
Fix this textware is manacled and exposed to the di-
Fix this textusage of her sister States. In the small Re-
Fix this textpublic of Delaware there are laws which
Fix this textare a scandal to every other State in the
Fix this textUnion. Still, none of the others are en-
Fix this texttitled to interfere in matters which do
Fix this textnot trench on the powers of the central
Fix this textGovernment. It would be precisely the
Fix this textsame with the various colonies or States
Fix this textcomposing an Australian confederation.
Fix this textWith the local laws of New South Wales,
Fix this textwhich were not opposed to the principles on
Fix this textwhich the confederation was established, the
Fix this textother colonies would have no more right to
Fix this textinterfere than New York has a right to
Fix this textobject to the Texan method of dealing with
Fix this texthorse thieves. What does Sir John Robert-
Fix this textson want more? Surely the amount of
Fix this textfreedom that satisfies the citizens of Boston
Fix this textshould satisfy those of Sydney.
Fix this text• •
Fix this textIn previous articles we have shown that,
Fix this textfrom a naval and military standpoint, Eng-
Fix this textland is weaker and more liable to embroil-
Fix this textment troubles through possessing
Fix this textprovinces in America, Africa and Australia,
Fix this textthan she would be without them. It is
Fix this textobvious, too, that her trade is not increased
Fix this textby the possession of self-governing commu-
Fix this textnities having the power to subject her goods
Fix this textto imposts, and who would not think of
Fix this textpivirg a £ to a British merchant for an
Fix this textarticle which they could obtain for a farth-
Fix this texting If S 3 from a foreigner. The late pitiful
Fix this textexhibition of disorganized incapacity in con-
Fix this textnection with the despatch of raw recruits to
Fix this texttake part in a shameful quarrel will have
Fix this textdone something to open the eyes of the
Fix this textBritish public to our military resources.
Fix this textLord Blackford thinks that the loyalty of
Fix this textthe colonies might last through one cam-
Fix this textpaign, but that a second would test it
Fix this textseverely. This is only reasonable. For
Fix this textwhen a person has no interest in a quarrel—
Fix this textis not consulted tegarding the cause, nor
Fix this textgiven a voice in the adjustment—one good
Fix this texthard knock will generally be found suffi-
Fix this textcient to induce him to return home and put
Fix this textup his shutters. The time is approaching
Fix this textwhen the mother country and her colonies
Fix this textwill discover that both an? chafed by the
Fix this texttits binding them. It is too muon to expect
Fix this textthat the English nation will much longer
Fix this textconsent to weaken itself at the centre, where
Fix this textail its strength is required, in order to pro-
Fix this texttect self-governing extremities from which
Fix this textit derives no benefit. And it is unreason-
Fix this textable to suppose that the extremities will
Fix this textcontinue to have their trade endangered
Fix this textand their towns threatened in causes with
Fix this textwhich they have no concern. Thus will
Fix this textcome about a mutual desire for separation.
Fix this textIf, when that time comes, the jealousies
Fix this textsown by politicians of the Robertson class
Fix this textshall have borne fruit, and the cutting of
Fix this textthe painter shall have left Australia a con-
Fix this textgeries of weak and jealous democracies in-
Fix this textstead of a powerful confederation, the dreary
Fix this textdrama that has dotted the South American
Fix this textcontinent with hostile republics will have a
Fix this textchance of being repeated on Australian soil.
Fix this textLet us revert one j more to the case of the
Fix this text•United States. It is to the Union, rather
Fix this textthan to England, we must look for lessons
Fix this textto guide us. Suppose, then, that, on the ter-
Fix this textmination of the Revolutionary war, the
Fix this textState of Pennsylvania, anticipating Sir John
Fix this textRobertson, said: “We shall not be bound
Fix this texthand and foot to the other colonies. We
Fix this textsnail be independent—have our own army
Fix this textand navy; adopt Freetrade or Protection,
Fix this textas we think lit; and let our neighbours shift
Fix this textfor themselves.” What would be the result ?
Fix this textEither ihe other States would coalesce and
Fix this textforce them to join the fedeiation—as the
Fix this textNorthern States, twenty years ago, forced
Fix this textthe Southern to remain in it—or each would
Fix this textset up for itself, build Custom-houses on its
Fix this textborders, and introduce all the abuses of the
Fix this textEuropean system. To-day, instead of one
Fix this textpowerful country washed by two oceans, we
Fix this textshould tee a number of communities dis-
Fix this textunited and jealous, constantly at war, and
Fix this textnot infrequently inviting European Powers
Fix this textto take a hand in their disputes. This is
Fix this textexactly what will occur in Australia should
Fix this textpublic opinion follow the teachings of those
Fix this textvain men who, busied with the petty
Fix this textwranglings of to-day, pay no heed to the
Fix this textmorrow.
Fix this text• » ♦
Fix this textThe people of Australia, then, should look
Fix this textto it that when the inevitableparting comes
Fix this textthe continental provinces will be found
Fix this textwelded together—possessing all the strength
Fix this textof homogeneousness while enjoying the ad-
Fix this textvantages of a large measure of local inde-
Fix this textpendence. Compared with clearing away
Fix this textthe obstacles which retard the federation
Fix this textof the colonies, all other political acts are of
Fix this textsmall importance. There are two principal
Fix this textcauses which prompt the Press and the
Fix this textpublic men of New South Wales to hold
Fix this textaloof from the movement. Distrust of Vic-
Fix this texttoria is one—dread lest a protective fiscal
Fix this textpolicy should bo forced on New South
Fix this textWales the other. Of the former it is enough
Fix this textto say that it is seldom found amongst the
Fix this textnatives of the colony, being almost confined
Fix this textto the fast-disappearing remnant of elderly
Fix this textimmigrants. When they go the jealousy will
Fix this textprobably go with them. Regarding the
Fix this textM. CLEMENCEAU,
Fix this textTHE FRENCH RADICAL STATESMAN.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
With your Trove account you can:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239761519
(1880). The bulletin Retrieved August 4, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239761519
The bulletin Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1880. Web. 4 August 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239761519>
1880, The bulletin John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, Sydney, N.S.W viewed 4 August 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239761519
{{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. 133 (28 Nov 1885)
| location=Sydney, N.S.W
| publisher=John Haynes and J.F. Archibald
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-239761519
| id=nla.obj-239761519
| access-date=4 August 2025
| via=Trove
}}
Citations are automatically generated and may require some modification to conform to exact standards.
Select the images you want to download, or the whole document.
You can order a copy of this work from Copies Direct.
Copies Direct supplies reproductions of collection material for a fee. This service is offered by the National Library of Australia
Copyright varies by issue and article
Copyright varies with each issue and article. You may have full rights to copy, or may be able to copy only under some circumstances, for example a portion for research or study. Order a copy where circumstances allow or Contact us for further information.
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply.
For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
Copy and paste one of these options to share this book elsewhere.