THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1886.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 5407, 29 January 1886, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1886.

; Great results have sprung from smaller [beginnings that the Federal Council (which opened its sittings a few days ago ; in the city c of Hobart ; and. .we see no reason why this newly, created body should not yet be the means of drawing all the : British Colonies in these seas into a bond I for high national purposes. It does not ; folio ar in the least that because New Zealand, New South Wales, and Western Australia hold aloof that the Federal Council will fall still-born or the yearnings of enthusiasts in the cause die out. A few years ago, when the question was first mooted by those whose mental promptings led them to peer into the future, the idea was but coldly received, and naturally enough. While all freely admitted that the young nations growing up in these seas — national transplants from the old,stockcould not continue to develop and expand without entering into some sort of an international pact, it was - held that the necessity for such a union was still remote — that circumstances were not ripe for such a scheme. But the changes in the affairs of mankind come upon us now with hurricane rapidity, and are scarcely foreseen before they are upon us. While still discussing in a leisurely way the question of Federation, and endeavoring to ascertain in what way this colony would benefit by joining in the movement, a trifling difficulty in Central Asia straightway shows the necessity of at any rate a defensive combination amongst the colonies, and a vote for defence purposes is anticipated without a word of . objection from the people of the colony. ' And European affairs rest upon such a treacherous foundation that we never can tell the day we shall have to prepare for the worst. In the face of such probable dangers, sensible people will involutarily turn to consult those in the same position as themselves. Common interest, if nothing else, will bring the colonies shoulder to shoulder. Unity is strength all the world over, and so it ought to be, and will be, with the Austr lasian Colonies. Every one, therefor 3, who is desirous of seeing the establishment of a Federal Union amongst the Colonies will rejoice to see that the newly created Council is an accomplished fact, and has settled itself down to serious work. It is true that the Council is weak, and the weakness is felt and admitted, to the extent that several important colonies stand outside the charmed circle of the League, and look askance at the doings of the new body. But limited as the power of the Council is, it is still a living illustration of the great principle of national federation that cannot be put on one side or ignored. It is the first step towards a united Australasia, and the Federal Council now, no matter with what disfavor or jealousy it may be regarded, dwarfs in importance any individual colony in the group. This must in the natural course of things be the case in these Colonies, but how much moie so will it be at Home, the centre and source of the aspirations after national unity ; and in Home eyes the action of New Zealand and the other colonies who declined the overtures towards f deration will be put down, to the timidity or eccentricity of colonial politicians. The proceedings of the Council will be narrowly watched on all hands, and its future power and influence upon colonial affairs will necessarily largely depend upon the results of thia session. So far its labors have been merely of a routine character, while the bills introduced and read a first time, although of very great colonial importance, are not calculated to create alarm or evoke hostility in the Colonies outside the federation. The enforcement of judgment and of criminal procesß, the service of civil process, and the facilitating the proof of Council Acts in Colonial Parliaments, are all very necessary reforms, the benefits of which will soon become apparent to everybody. It will be well, therefore, if the Council should confine itself for the present to measures of a like useful and unobjectionable character, leaving those of greater national scope and importance for a future session, by which time the prejudices of New Zealand and the other colonies opposed to the Federal Council may have become very much woakened or dissipated altogether. We imHgiiie that by a little tact and care in this way the Federal Council would soon gain inprestige and strength, so as to fulfil the anftcipations"sought to be realised by the federated union of this cluster of homogenuous states. j

[As for the speech of Mr Douglas, the telegram relating to which reached us after the foregoing was written, it opens up a question that is still in the nebulous stage, and need not be seriously discussed at present.]