AFTER THE FEDERAL REFERENDUM.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10886, 1 July 1899, Page 6

AFTER THE FEDERAL REFERENDUM.

The latest Sydney papers give full par*, ticulars of the Federal Referendum,, and of the speeches of the leaders, when interviewed concerning the result of the vote. The lack of excitement during the voting, mentioned in our cablegram at the time, seems to have been most marked. Even in the King division of Sydney, the proceedings were characterised" by "an almost dreary sameness." But if there was little excitement over the voting, the numbers of those recording their vote exceeded those of any general election. It was not until a quarter past six in the evening that the first return came in. This showed a alight majority in favour of the BilL An early return changed the majority into a minority. The rejoicings thereat of the Anti-Federalists were, however, premature, for the very next return reversed matters, and the success of the Federalists after that was never for an instant in danger. In the King division, where a determined effort was made to de- v feat the Bill, out of malice to the Premier, who sits for that constituency,. there was a majority of 706 in favour of the Bill. Other Sydney divisions were less favour-, able, though' showing.a net* majority for the BilL The eraburba voted on the whole with the Anti-Federalists, hub the country went solid for federation. By midnight { the total of votes recorded for the Bill was \ 101,200, while the negative votes did not f quite reach 80,000. . The speeches from the | windows of the Empire, Hotel, prematurely | delivered last year, were repeated, with' an | important difference, Mr. Reid was among | the speakers. It was Mr. Barton, how- fj ever, who, according to the "Daily Tele- I graph," received the most enthusiastic de- || monstration, "I have spent," he told the 1 crowd, ,r both my-.energies and fortunes in J| your cause, but I will cay this, that I reap M the reward now in <thia glorious victory." W Mr. Wise, who was also well received, pro- m phesied thafy "those who, were" /that d*y|F defeated would,, in the.course of a ifewal years, be the "first to tnank-them. for thei/f----defeat." Later, at a-meeting.of.their su/f '" porters, Mr. Barton also indulged in pm*? phecy, ' "Federation," he told his hearer*' *• would bring about the development of t? country, and give .them a "land' prosper^ B beyond any other on the-earth/'. and f* Bruce Smith was erjthusiastacally for his ; :_sjfar. |^'

Wales *»** taken » »oud «»d '^r^mh^^^^^ 6 * «» *o«wttpliAh\'Z '■ ment «!*** «*** m ' *• «»-» ud » ti<m ','*".- „£ the/British Empire and the federation f of the Anglo-Saxon race." Meanwhile, in \. the hostile camp, every excuse was offered i for the not unanticipated defeat. Sir J Ueorge Dibbs, never prominent for tact or * tclf-restraint, made statement* concerning !' bribery by Melbourne money. "The silent conspiracy," he said, "of the wnole of the Churches was against us." "Lord, have mercy on their souls," was all that Mr. Pilcher, Q.C., could find to say, while the , Hon. Mr. Heydon went so far as to quote "Julius G»sar":---**oh, what a fall was then, my countryroeal ... m„ . Then I and you and all of us fell down; Whilst bloody treason flourished over us. } : These statements, however, were made, p> must be remembered, while the speakers were suffering the pangs of defeat. Tnere is every reason to believe that, in the'words ;.' of *he tMefboume "Age," " the batt|/having -v : '".y* been fought and won on ita p*rits, the ♦'losers will accept the and make , * the best use of tire measure t*-t will guide "•/'.' **Australian political life/in the coming "years." An Adelaide newspaper provides w apt comparison, by of conclusion. - Neither Mr. Reid, nor tfr. Barton, says the "Register," "offered to the people of New ~ " South Wales so convincing an argument for "federation, as Was presented by the "spectacle of the Australian Eleven de♦"monstrating ija superiority in cricket. No ':' * single colon/ could put into the field a ..'• "team able to overcome the champions of **the Old Country. But what no one '■'•- *BtMe could do, United Australia has done. ' * and the analogy surely suggests itself, 11 what might not United Australia accom"push.in commerce, in arts and sciences, "ill social advancement, and in national pro**gt*ss!" Federation will certainly convert Australia and Tasmania from a handful of nuarrelliog colonies into a great and barttoxuous nation. Commercial development may he taken as certain. How far the . roseate prophecies.of the "Advertiser" will '■;" bo fulfilled "lies," as Homer says, "upon the : ' knees of the gods."