Federation Constitution.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 598, 23 April 1891, Page 2

Federation Constitution.

A STRONG PROTEST. A N.S.W. Republican journal deals strongly with the proposal to have the Governor* General of the Federation nominated in tha old country, ft says I—Parkes clenched his main argument at the Melbourne Conference for a ” Federation under the Orown ’’ by remarking that tbe “ Governor-General of Australia would be able to bold a Court that could be as attractive as that of the monarob of the old world, which is not a light thing to ba passed over as a matter of sentiment.” Right at tbe root of tha Nominee Vioaroyship lies this simulacrum of a “ Court" with all its parasitisms and all its falsehoods. A man in whose hands the people place tbe charter of its executive power—a Lincoln, a Gaifield, a Grant —would, almost certainly, be a man who would estimate 11 society ” at its true worthlessness. Betwean his rugged, perhaps toil-hardened palms, " society ” would be chary of placing its white gloves, afraid that the immaculateness of the kid might be stained by a drop of honest sweat; but a Viceroy who had " kiered hands " on receiving Iler Majesty's commission, who, perhaps, had been permitted to dig the Heir-Apparent in the ribs, to back his Royal Highness’ bills, and to cash his Royal Highness' 1.0.U.’s at tbe baccarat tables—to a Governor-General of this class a "Court” would be necessary, and courtiers many. It is to our shame that they would ba many. The vice-regal system which has obtained in Australia to the present day baa been socially degrading. It could not have helped being anything else. It has produced a breed of sycophants ; it has set up false standards of living; it has made, or has sought to make, a card of entrfe to Government House a certificate of manly and womanly virtue. But the vice-regal system which the Constitution will create, inasmuch aa it will be more distinctly aristooratio, will intensify the resultant evils and the resultant shame, " So long,” said Sir George Grey in Convention, “ as there are Governors-General sent here from England, so long, I believe, there must be inevitably an aristocratic British Party resident in Australia. ” The venerable Pro-Consul declared the true Australian mind in these words. A nominee GovernorGeneral will be surrounded with an ariatooaoy which will look to Britain for sanction of its social developments, and will esteem political distinction only as it is branded with a titular ” honor.” It will be, however, a class that will be deficient in the one feature which oan never be admirable iu an aristocracy, for that high-breeding of the individual which is tbe product of the leisure and culture of generations will be wanting here. Our " Colonial " aristocracy will not be the leas but the more pernicious because it does nqt bear the hall-mark of “ longdescent” and inherited instincts. It’will bo a privileged caste without the one quality which oan redeem the privilege. Now, in the Australian Commonwealth there must be no room for caste or a privileged class. The politics of the twentieth oeutury will be sociological ; it vylll be the happiness of society in the mass and in the unit, and not the aggrandisement of dynastic or plutocratio sections, that will ba the concern of the Stats, The hour will soon strike when the cry of an infant at its starving mother’s tniikleas breast will stir ths heart of the nation quicker than a thousand Imperial rescripts, Iu the sphere of the new politics tbe bora aristocrat shall have his share of justice, and hie opportunity ; the brat born in the gutter shall have no less. This is plainly written on the walla of the present social structure and the men who shut their eyes to the inscription invite the fate of