Our Sydney Letter

Southland Times, Issue 14840, 17 January 1901, Page 2

Our Sydney Letter

(FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) WELCOME LITTLE STRANGER. For one whole week wo have experienced the new sensation of being citizens of tho Commonwealth, and so far there have been no complaints, except perhaps from those who have celebrated the occasion not wisely, but too well, and who have to go through the painful process of “ suffering a . recovery.” The new-born nation is a pretty big baby, it is true. But the arrival of every baby brings a softening of the heart and a desire for its welfare which blunts the edge of criticism. The conduct of the nurse may have been suspicious, and that of the doctor may have failed to satisfy the ideas of exacting friends. But the new life overshadows everything. So it is with the advent of the Commonwealth. Even those who opposed the acceptance of the Constitution in its present form would not now go back to isolation and disunion, even if it were in their power. As loyal citizens they will use all constitutional means to remove what they regard as serious blemishes. The new state of affairs, however, is loyally accepted. For richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, Australia is now one and indivisible and a feeling of general hopefulness prevails in Sydney at the present moment in view of the broader horizon and wider scope thus opened. The new national life that has been ushered into being will be carefully and tenderly nurtured and in time will doubtless take its place among the giants of the earth. some pleasing surprises.

We were all surprised at ourselves. The celebrations, now drawing to a close, have attracted crowds far larger than were ever seen in Sydney before, larger, probably, than will ever be seen again during the present generation. It was feared, and not without reason, that some mismanagement on the part of the authorities, or some thoughtlessness on the part of the people, would cause grave disaster. Yet there has been astonishing freedom from accidents. The Government have made humiliating mistakes in the matter of precedence—have evoked the wrath of distinguished individuals in consequence. Their action in numerous other matters has been open to criticism. But they have, at any rate, managed to avoid serious mischief to the lives and limbs of the people. The crowd also has been orderly in the extreme. The wild “ rushes” to which we are accustomed in election time and which, if repeated, during the past week, might have wrought incalculable damage, have not been attempted. The sovereign people have been on their good behaviour, and the result has been so gratifying that it is to be hoped that this occasion will form a precedent for all future celebrations. Then there was to have been a carnival of crime. Pickpockets were to be busy in the streets, and unprotected suburdan residences were to be burgled, whilst their occupants were seeing the sights. Nothing of the kind has happened. Instead of more crime than usual, there has been if anything rather less All these pleasing surprises are doubtless due to the fact that the responsible authorities, the people, the visitors, and the police have been very much on their guard, an attitude which, it is to be hoped, will become permanent. general feeling. It would be a mistake, however, to suppose that there is any very prevalent enthusiasm. The Constitution is loyally accepted, as I have said. But few persons, except its sponsors, believe it to be even decently fair in its provisions, much less that it is the best that could have been framed. Nothing has transpired to change the convictions of those who, although basely deserted by their natural political leaders, voted “No” at the referendum. They number more than two-fifths—nearly one-half—of the votes recorded, and their loyal submission to the will of the majority is one of the most pleasing and creditable features of the occasion. Still, as I have said, it would be too much to expect enthusiasm in the centre of that semi-circle of 100 miles radius which is invidiously and unjustly banned by the Constitution in deference' to provincial jealousy. At the swear-ing-in ceremony the immense concourse assembled gazed as curious spectators of a raree show got up for their delectation, not as being themselves the actors in an epoch - making event. They did not even join in the stirring hymn “ O God, our help in ages past,” and for some inscrutable reason tho magnificent choir of 10,000 children were also silent. When the Archbishop commenced the prayer invoking the Divine blessing, the children, pitying the fagged out condition of the regulars standing at ease near them, threw them lollies and buns, causing an immediate scramble. This was unintentional, of course, nevertheless it marred the solemnity of a unique occasion, and it will be readily understood that the religious portion of the ceremonial was lame, and about a hundredfold tamer than it would have been had it been heartily taken up by the vast audience. If religious observances are only to be regarded as a mummery to be gazed upon and not to be participated in, they had better be omitted. Fortunately the prosperity of the Commonwealth will depend on its practical observance of Divine law, rather than upon the ceremonial which attended its birth. the general effect. So far as enjoyment can bo obtained by bright colours, beautiful arches, a gorgeous display of bunting, the playing of bands, free shows, and the coruscation of fireworks, it has been amply achieved.. But, after all, these things are only skin deep, and in a comparatively short time they become absolutely wearisome. Confectionery is all very well for a change, but no one but a freak would care to live upon it. The calm verdict of commonsense will be that the decoration has been over done, Much more to tho purpose would it have been, instead of erecting temporary lath and plaster arches, to build some beautiful memorial that would serve as a reminder to future generations. Money has been spent like water. Instead of £.30,000 the expenditure is more likely to run into £130,000, and there is little or nothing to show for it, except the champagne corks and the burnt rocket sticks. That there has been shocking waste, if not absolute malversation, goes without saying, and it is little to the credit of the responsible persons that in the midst of this reckless profusion, tho poor, who should have been the first care of the authorities, were (very scurvily treated. The allowance doled out to them was meagre, and little or no care was taken to preserve the self-respect of the recipients. It was given in a pauperising manner that entirely destroyed the significance of the largesse. That the demonstrations have achieved the measure of success which has attended them is duo to the magnificent temper of the people, and the skill and care shown in marshalling the processions, and in regulating the traffic. As to other matters the less said tho better. {Press privileges wore readily obtainable by persons who had a very slender right to them, whilst conductors of reputable journals found difficulty in obtaining needed facilities. The faux pas was perpetrated of appointing to the control of this part of the proceedings a-gentlcman who is regarded by many as having a very questionable connection with legitimate journalism—the editor, namely, of a periodical which is published by a big firm of ironmongers for advertising purposes. political. Beyond the swearing-in of the Federal Ministry and the attempt to enforce impracticable Customs regulations very little has been done in practical politics. The new Ministers have not yet got their shoulders into the collar. When they do there is much speculation as to whether they' will be able to pull together. Mr Barton promises to publish his manifesto at Maitland, where ho is shortly to be banqueted. This will give the people an indication what to expect from the new regime. Mr Reid, who is the only public man in Sydney who evokes spontaneous cheering when ho appears, is about to visit the southern colonies in the interests of Freetrade. The present Cabinet is wholly composed of strong Protectionists, but it is to be hoped that the Federal Parliament will find some more vital issue than the played-out fiscal question. Sydney, 7th Jan., 1901.