FEDERATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8582, 2 June 1891, Page 3

FEDERATION.

. TO Till* EDITOR. ■■_.:■ Sir, Federation 13 ; something more than in the air. It is our daily bread, and since much may be said on both sides of the question, it, is well that both sides , should : be fairly represented, free of ■ sectarian jealousy. federation has crept even into the churches ! See Bishop Neville s plea for xinion (Herald, 28th), and Dissenting churches echo his wish. "Is a second American Republic to be desired?" Yes, sir, it .is «precisely what wo want, the United States of Australasia; a greater America if you will. It is too late in the day to sneer at America. "■ She is, :■ I think, the first nation in the world, considering her youth and early struggles. V A lasting reputation is not<built upon "wooden nutmegs,": rest assured ; not even Americans are clever enough to do that. ; She has the riffraff of the ; world for population, yet : think how* 'wisely * and v inexpensively she '■■ is : governed " without a useless ornament at the nation's head." < Instead of bandying words without knowledge, I would by your leave, sir, ask your i correspondents to study well, without prejudice, the constitution of the United States, and improve on it if they can. if wo blunder with such a model before us, we shall i indeed ' deservo the reprobation or posterity,* Long years ago, Gladstone said of America, v she is passing us by at a canter," and this is done by good work, not ; bad, believe mo. 'I am an Englishwoman ;. : I love my country; but I have made two lengthened visits to .. England since *i I - first ; took , this young conn try to my ■ heart, and I learned with pain that the old world has lan utter contempt ■ for the colonies, even though it is tho ltishion just now that ;- federation is abroad jto pat . the ; colonists' on the, back. Early impressions are lasting. > England does not forgot ; that ■ she used, to send her humanrubbish to the colonies; and still believes that ill emigrants '■■ leave their country for their country s ; good.; Hotvi own ■ scapegrace sons are still sent here, you know. If this pronounced - contempt ; has dulled my.::love for England,. it is because I soe, too, that, instead of leading ; tho van of intelligence— great, marvellously great as her advantages have been— in her proud S disdain, is allowing others, ; and even young nations,' to gain upon her, ingloriously for her, gloriously for themselves. It says much for Australia , that f: she has- at last;. secured '• ouo : trieud in

England, Lord Carrington, who ineists *?the» colonies must be consulted." And,-if Worthy New Zealand willsecureafriendm her Gk£ } rernor, the Earl of Onslow. Ho is determined to ; know our country and its people, as he ' must do to form a just estimate of her future prospects. And, it I could have introduced * him to some half dozen of the women of my acquaintance, I dare to believe that, in returning to England; he would have said, verj emphatically, " the women must be consulted." Yes, in the future man must go hand in haud with woman; must accept her as mentor, censor, or what they wm J. but they must take her. And, if a strikingly independent, capable man is seen, it will be readily surmised that a woman is behind him—that she is the power behind" the throne, etc. Of a nation, even, it will presently be asked, " What are her women I" ; The vital question for New Zealand at the moment is, if she federates, has she even one fairly representative man, able to protect her interests amid conflicting interests? ■ I think she has one pre-eminently' ableRobert Stout—hia title is his one mistake. He has a clear head, and the courage of hia convictions; whereas, the many are mere pocket-interest agitators. The best must win; there ia v sUch power in the autocracy of right, widely, intelligently Considered that a nation's best interests may be trusted to its supremacy, v If, a tremendous, if,- you have the man to assert it—thejnanwho seeks only the common good. Such a painful«/as.it ia after 1800 years of a professed Christianity. The true.man's voice will make itself heard and felt over twice 20,000 miles, and hia strong will will, demolish selfish interests at a stroke of the pen. Bat so far such men have not had the ghost of a chance of benefit* ing the race. They are hounded down, on the one hand by the skinfiinte who would, sell their country fora brass farthing, and on the other hand by ignorant bigotry: Common sense'is always practical: it goes deep' into the details of human' life, andwinga t6 light the wheel-witMn-wheel tricks of trade. England.puts her respect for the colonies into her commerce, hence "made expressly for the colonies" is the < worst recommends- : tion an article can have. She knows where to shoot her rubbish still. Co-operation is good, alike for the nation and for the individual; and doubtless a well-managed cooperative- dry goods association in Auckland would return 100 per cent to its ehare« holders. The other day I bought Astrakan 63. lid (six shillings and eleven pence) per yard -(of a " direct importer," as reasonable " in his charges as other drapers, but it was utter rubbish, not even a decent imitation of the genuine article, for which you would aay about 5s a yard in the old country. Looking at the quality of things, you have to pay as high for all drapery goods. Now, ' sir, I shall have faith in the federation pros, and cons, when I know that your correspondents have studied the American constitution ia &U its practical bearings.—l amj etc., Eluen E. Ems, •■■■■■.