The Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1888. Australian Loyalty.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6313, 10 August 1888, Page 2

The Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1888. Australian Loyalty.

The Queensland Premier has made up his mind that separation ia a thing which, must come. As the opinion of an individual of the ordinary political stamp this is of no importance. As an opinion that may be shared by the Australian National Association, its. significance may be considerable, for the Association is what mathematicians call an increasing quan* tity. The sentiment of loyalty is of course very strong in Australia, though the continent is not absolutely unanimous in its feeling, for there are cavillers and critics who affectextreme Eadicalism, agnosticism, and cynicism. For them the throne is an nnhallowed memory, the Church including all denominations — a degrading superstition, the Imperial connection an illogical incubus. But the majority are not of that way of thinking. Nevertheless, they are quite capable of preferring Australian peace to European quarrels. In certain cases, of course, they would, with reluctance no doubt, but none the less firmly, demand separation. If, on the other hand, the Empire agrees to come forth out of the European complication and keep itself to itself, it will find no loyalty greater than the Australasian. The population of Australasia is equal of that of the Colonies, which revolted a century ago in North Americaand founded the United States. Australasian opinion is, we may Bay therefore, of some importance.