[Editor: This article was published in The Blayney Advocate and Carcoar Herald (Blayney, NSW), 17 June 1899; it was previously published in Australian Nation.]
A White Australia.
Federal leaders have attached much importance to the power which is said to be contained in the Federal Constitution for dealing with the question of the influx of inferior and colored races, which, we regret to say, is only true in part.
That this is the case, however, does not condemn the bill, inasmuch as unfortunately we have no power to effectively deal with this question without the consent of another nation. But the one point which is advantageous to these colonies is the provision whereby co-operation which is impossible under existing conditions has been made imperative in that the federal Parliament is authorised and empowered to deal with this question — as far as a dependent commonwealth can go.
The application of this power will have comparative results for good. At present we are not compelled to receive Japs, Chinese and Kanakas in the same way as we have to admit the scum of India, and we have no doubt the exclusion of the former would be early accomplished by our own federal Parliament. This in itself would be a great boon to “white” Australia, as everybody must recognise who has an idea of the extent of this evil.
In Queensland and the Northern territory the inferior population is constantly and rapidly growing, and those colonies do not find the Chinese and Kanakas altogether an intrusive or useless class of immigrants. Therefore of their own accord they are not likely to in any way interfere with or prohibit this influx. But the demand of Australians for a “white” Australia will survive and become emphatic as time goes on, so much so that no federal Parliament can ignore the cry.
Therefore, whether Queensland — and she is the sinner in this respect, notwithstanding the brotherly feeling anti-federalists affect towards her in contradiction to Victoria — comes in this and the southern colonies will be able to erect a barrier against inferior races either on the borders of Queensland or on its coast. The accomplishment of this alone should be sufficient incentive to lovers of Australia to support the bill which gives undisputed power in this respect to the federal Parliament, whose election the people have entirely in their own hands.
Towards the Indian hawkers and other inferior races who are British subjects, and who invade our shores in their own quiet and surreptitious way, we are not so fortunately circumstanced. Whether as provinces or a Commonwealth we are not empowered to deal with these as our free will would direct. But still, it will hardly be denied that a federated and unanimous Australia would have much more weight with the Home authorities in a reasonable protest than under other conditions.
We are not in a position, and do not at this stage seek to renounce our allegiance or relationship with the mother country. Hence in any case we will have to endure the alien evil for the time being.
But Australia has a destiny, a goal of national greatness and independence, and all our efforts should be directed towards the one end. A Federated Australia will advance us materially and nationally towards that destiny, not the least important feature of which will be a “White” Australia for the Australian people
— “Australian Nation.”
Source:
The Blayney Advocate and Carcoar Herald (Blayney, NSW), 17 June 1899, p. 4
Editor’s notes:
appellation = a name or title (or the act of giving a name or title)
Home = in an historical Australian context, Great Britain; may also refer to England specifically
[Editor: Changed “The appellation of this power” to “The application of this power”.]
[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]
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