Scarce , c.19th group image of the Australian Convention with a key, identifying all delegates at the convention.
In the foreground at centre is the Hon. Sir Henry Parkes the Father of Federation.
At the Federal Convention which met in Sydney on March 1891 . At the banquet to mark the opening of the convention, Sir Henry spoke to the toast – one people, one destiny.
We who see that the time has come for Australia to form a great nation simply say that the time has come for union. Those who are against us must be the promoters of dissension. We say that the time has come when there should be only peace and good will and agreement between these great colonies. Those who are against us must be in favour of distraction and turmoil and dissension. They cannot, if they disagree with me, they cannot be other than opposed to the objects which we seek to attain. They cannot be other than opposed to the union of these great colonies. We seek to break down the barriers which have hitherto divided us. They, if they oppose us, must seek to keep us apart. Seeing that we have at this moment a population of upwards of four million people living in a land which is girt by the everlasting sea and has no coterminous neighbour – seeing all this, we may say that the time has come when Australian people shall be one, henceforth and forever.
So, then we may say that one people may make common cause and inherit one destiny. But does this imply any disloyalty to the empire of which we are part? I contend that it means nothing of the sort, but it does mean that great Australian people, increasing day by day, year by year, increasing not only in number but in all the power that number and civilisation know, in the power which is conferred by bringing science as a harnessed steed into our service and by bringing to bear upon our fortunes all the abundance of an advanced civilisation. I contend that it means that this people with all these advantages desire to live as one people and to rival in a very friendly way every power in the constellation of states known as the British Empire. We wish to be an Australian people and as such we wish to be the brightest jewel in the crown of the empire. I shall not tonight attempt to point out the advantages that would flow from the federation of Australia. I would only point out the signs of the times. I would only add that if the foundation stone is laid, then the superstructure must rise. I would point out that the seed is sown and that it must spring up to maturity. No power on earth can throw back the cause of the Australian federation.
Even tonight, surrounded by all the encouraging evidence that I see, I do not disguise from my mind the great obstacles there are before us, and the reasons that might be urged as tending to probable partial failure. It may possibly be that the convention sitting in Sydney will not achieve all we desire. But it will do this, as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow: it will lay a stone in the foundation which all the forces in the world can never remove. And a little longer space of time will certainly bring about a solid and competed edifice. Now I should like to ask those who doubt the wisdom of the cause in which we are engaged. I should like to ask whether they are prepared to go on forever as we are going now. Would they go on forever with New South Wales divided from Victoria by a narrow stream and a line of customs-house officers? Would they go on forever with another line of customs-house officers dividing South Australia from Victoria? Would they go on forever with all these causes of irritation? I do not believe there are any intelligent men in all this country who would say he would go on forever accepting all these things. If no, when are we to try and turn over a new leaf and start on a new mission. I say the time is now.
We seek no separation. We only seek to draw closer the bonds of true loyalty, and to continue to share in the rights and privileges that belong to every British subject. We seek a proud place undoubtedly, but it is the proud place of being equals of the best of the British nation and at the same time preserve our Australian identity. We seek in the best way that is possible, by federated power, to master our own destinies and to win our own position in the world, and in entertaining this lofty and enlightened ambition we are not prepared to take any second place amidst the civilised peoples of the world. We shall seek to remain side by side with that dear old England that we all love so well. I mean, in using that expression, the three kingdoms, and I use that expression because it is briefer and more suited to my purpose. We claim to take our place side by side with her; to share all her difficulties, and honours and glories, and to be equal in everything beneath the sway of the British Crown and under the beneficent rule of our sovereign lady the Queen. And in claiming that, we seek to give our interest an Australian colouring and character so that the name of ‘Australian’ shall not be eclipsed by the name of ‘Englishman’, or ‘Scotsman’ or ‘Irishman’ in any part of the world.
The Australian soldier shall have no superior; the Australian workman shall have no superior. We seek then to build up here an Australia for ourselves, but believing that no form of government could be better than that under which we live, we seek to rend no ties, we seek to shatter no edifice – but only to create what we think is necessary for bringing out all the great faculties of our own individual interests. I have often wondered why any person could quarrel with us in this cause. We are making war on no one. We are seeking to provide no principle to which exception could be taken. Our cause is well known. Our cause is peace. Our cause is the consolidation of Australian interests. Each colony – New South Wales for example – will be as she ever was, but New South Wales and Victoria and the other colonies united will have a power they can only obtain by federation, and that power alone will give them a proper place in the family of nations. I ask you then, with unreserved feeling, with true hearts, earnestly engaged in this great work to drink this toast:
One people. One destiny.
From the original edition of The Graphic.
