| Show THE australian commonwealth this date is suggestive of many particulars tic ulars in the history of our country over which the patriotic student might dwell with profit for a moment or two it was on this day 1789 that george washington was inaugurated president of the united states the ceremony took place in new york city both houses of congress were in attendance A statue of washington now marks the spot on broadway where the grand event occurred every article of apparel worn by th the e cl father alfather of his country on that day was of american manufacture so were those worn by john adams the cioe it requires no stretch of fancy on our part to place ourselves in communion with those who hailed with joyous shouts the first president of the republic after the oath was administered and after the bible was reverently kissed chancellor lit livingstone proclaimed in loud tones long live george washington president of the united states though years have passed since this glorious event yet we can echo the shout today and as fervently repeat st the prayerful wish this day is also commemorative of another incident ain in our early history worthy of more than passing notice it was on april 30 1803 that louisiana was ceded to the united states by napoleon the first of france the sum paid for it was the territory in question now comprises three wealthy and prosperous commonwealths they are louisiana missouri and arkansas three states admitted to the union respectively in 1812 1821 and 1836 1886 at the time of this purchase thomas jefferson was president and napoleon was at the power of his bis zenith and glory in dwelling on these historic scenes of our early nationhood we cannot help turning to events of a similar character transpiring in another hemisphere at the present time reference is had here to australia most moet readers are aware that during the month of april a convention was waa held at sydny sydney for the purpose of establishing a federation of the british colonies in the south pacific ocean contrast the situation there today with that of phila delph a in 1776 then at the word federation the english mind was aroused and the rifle the sword and the be cannon called into requisition beven seven years of war of sacrifice of heroic endurance established the united states of america in our time england has grown wiser at the sound of federation in the pacific neither sword nor c rifle was invoked the he operations now W I 1 in P 2 ress reea for the perfection and establishment of the united states of australia are being conducted in a manner that will do honor and credit to the english speaking king races they will also be productive of mutual benefits to parent and child what I 1 is called australia proper now comprises five separate colonies the largest in extent is western ru australia its area is over square miles but its population is only about its capital city perth has a population of the second in extent is south australia with an area of square miles and a population of square its ts capital city adelaide has a population of about the next JD in extent is queensland with an area of square miles and a population of its capital city is brisbane with a population of the most populous of the new states to is new south wales it has an area of square miles and a population of sydney its capital city has a population of in wealth ani an I in population victoria comes next it has an area of only square miles and a population of over its capital city mel bourne has a population of 01 new zealand and tasmania Tasman tIr can enter into the australian commonwealth if they so desire in fact provision is made for the admission of new states and for the division of old ones in extent of territory the now new federation federation in australia will be equal to that of the united states without alaska the estimated population at present is about the debt is large almost as much as that of the united states there are about miles 0 of railroad in australia most of which if not all to is owned by the government the debt was incurred in helping to developed dev elope the railroad system but the authorities had wisdom enough to retain control of the roads for the benefit of the people rather than turn them over to shar pers and the roads are managed and operated at present by a government board the history of the federation scheme is brief in 1858 1853 william C wont went worth advocated a federation of the colonies henry parkes opposed it the que question tion after a little discussion was dropped for thirty years it slumbered in 1888 1883 it was again revived and strange to say henry parkes nw sir henry turned up as leader of the pro federation fed oration scheme A convention of delegates from the colonies was held in sydney in this year it outlined a plan of union so imperfect that it was wan not seriously considered byrbe by the people what is known as the federal council of australia was established by the british parliament three years later 1886 the council was to be composed of two members from each self governing over ning elt colony and one from each crown colony this council had no authority in any colony unless the colony gave it special sanction new south wales south australia and new zealand would have nothing to do with it and the council became innocuously desue dent in 1886 and again in 1888 aad 1889 extorts were m made de ta establish some acceptable plan of federation nothing however was effected except that education on the issue was being widely diffused in feb 1890 sir henry parkes brought about a federation conference attended by delegates from new south wales victoria queensland south australia western australia new zealand tasmania and fol fiji an address to the crown was adopted in which it ft was declared that the best beat interests of the colonies ac well as of the I 1 imperial gov government emment would be conser velby a union under the crown there wn clr also adopted a recommendation for a national Australi asian convention empowered to report an adequate scheme for a federal constitution during the early part of april the authorized convention met at sydney new south wales completed its work and adjourned on the ath of said month the constitution adopted de nominates the colonies states and the now new federation the commonwealth of australia the legislature leKi slature is to etti of a senate and house of representatives each state legislature will send to the senate eight members for six year terms but four must retire every three years members of the house are limited to three year terms each state la is entitled to four members but the principle of representation according to of population is that on which the house membership is based the congress of A australia ralia will have more imperial power than that of the united states it will control the postal and telegraphic service and it will enact all laws governing marriage and divorce the chief executive will be officially known as governor general he will be appointed bythe by the crown and will be assisted by a council of seven ministers selected from members of either house he will be invested with the power ile he will be commander lo in chief odthe of the army and navy provision is made for asu a supreme court similar to that of the united states but in some cases an an appeal from it to the crown can be made interstate inter state free trade will go into effect at once but existing tariff fis with foreign countries must remain as at present until congress decrees otherwise surplus revenue must be distributed among the states constitutional amendments are to be made amade by a majority vote of congress A convention elected by popular vote will next be held in each state and a draft of the constitution adopted by the sydney convention submitted should three states adopt and ratify this constitution the imperial government will then be petitioned to establish the australasian commonwealth it is safe to conclude that the five states of australia proper will approve the ithe scheme that is new auth wales victoria queensland south australia and nd aft australia now new zealand and tasmania can also become members of the union if they so desire it la is also safe to conclude that england will ratify the new commonwealth coercion is no longer part of her policy in governing colonies should an extra officious clouR person be appointed to the governorship trouble may result and absolute independent fo fose sw it aply 4 requires a slight alight amendment to throw off the go governorship elsor ship sl altogether the instrument IB as drawn with a view to such a contingency so that the governur governor better le be as chary of exercising ills veto power as is the queen there to la one feature of the tion of the commonwealth of australia that is especially sign of united states stata history aad politics that Is IB the tendency to federalism rather than to states the australian parl parliament iamont or to itself the right to control immigration naturalization qualifications for citizenship zen ship suffrage kage marriage divorce and the chartering and regulation of corporations it can even enact laws applicable to single states laws relating to the levying of taxation must originate in the lower house but the senate may accept or them it cannot amend them the bill must go back to the house and be there amended but nothing in the way of what we call a rider will be tolerated the supreme court will consist of a chief justice and four associate jus tices cices this will be 1 the final court of appeal except in cases came where public interests touching the empire are concerned in this respect australia will differ somewhat from canada and other british provinces where appeal to is always in order the constitution to is universally admitted to be an able document it is the work of sir hery fiery parkes he has studied the question thoroughly he mastered the shortcomings of other governments and outlined his federation scheme on the broadest philosophic basis consistent with the safety of the empire and with the good government of his commonwealth JUNTOS apelt A 30 1891 1801 |
