THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11798, 30 July 1900, Page 2

THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH.

RETURN OF MR^ DEAKIN

Mr Deiikih; who'went to London as Victoria's federal delegate, returned to Melbourne on the 17th' inst., and was warmly welcomed back. He was officially welcomed back at Parliament House-by the Government. The company included the Lieutenant-gover-nor; members of both Houses of Parliament, and distinguished citizens. Mr M'Lean presided. . ■ . ■; .: . •

Mr Deakiri, in the course of a speech, said that in ■ rondcrinpr an account of his stewardship he would like to say that any success achieved had been achieved by the whole body of the delegates. He was here now-because he felt it. his duty to. come back to his constituency. Mr Barton's services had, he said, been inestimable, and the others had stood by mm shoulder to shoulder. They wore fortunate to- find in. Groat Britain a powerful and distinctly friendly Government, who met them in the frankest and fairest spirit; an | Opposition- ready- to give them what was fair ; a favourable Independent party; and also they were fortunate in being able to unite j the hitherto ununitablo party—the Irish I party.—(Cheers.) No higher reward could be sought than that the end crowned the work. 1 lie rock.oiv which the split had occurred was that the- delegates had not all been instructed to support the bill as it was passed by. the i P°°P™ of Australia. That brilliant statesman, •i.O" ambGl'lain, had treated the delegates with perfect fairness, had supported them whnre ho was. With them, yet opnpsed with all his powerful influence and abilities in debate wliora he was opposed to them. Negotiations \yere consequently most difficult and continuous. The present clause 74 was somewhat narrower and also somewhat clearer than the original clause, but ho believed that it contained the principle that the people of | Australia, wanted. — (Cheers.) Taking the novelty of some of the provisions of the bill into consideration, and the fact that it went further than any other Constitution, they must admit they had been Euperby treated by the Imperial Parliament. —(Cheers.) After touching other features of the bill, he said, as to the appeal claus'o, he believed, and always had believed, that time was on the side of the Australian Court of Appeal. Time would build up confidence in it. despite troubles and disappointments. Ho trusted that the feeling here was " all's well that ends well," and that wo could' well afford to let the past bury its dnad. At alj events, the results were matters of which they might well feel proud. But he believed if Australia had stood firm not one word—aye, not one comma—of the bill would have been altered. The delegates were fortunate in another respect. The ordinary feeling of the mother country towards her colonies had been raised almost- to fever point by the spirited response of all the colonies to the ncccssitiies of the mother country in South Africa. The feeling of the people towards

Australia was that Australia might ask anything within reason and not be denied." It was a force with which even the existing powerful Government had to reckon. lie congratulated Australia on the attainment of her majority, and tho Queen, Prince of Wales, and other members of the Royal Family had publicly expressed their sympathy with Australia in its request. The good feeling between Australia and the mother country had been immeasurably strengthened, and he was con-fi-dont that in the bond of love and of loyalty we should continued to have but one flag and always remain one united people.