CHAPTER XXII 

 AUSTRALIA'S DESTINY 



I HAVE striven to depict the people of Aus- 

 tralia busy in the work of developing the 

 resources of their country, secure from all outside 

 influences. The generous measure of self-govern- 

 ment which they enjoy permits them to manage 

 their own affairs practically in their own way. 

 The remoteness of their continent, as well as the 

 protection of the world's greatest sea-power, has 

 so far ensured their immunity from outside inter- 

 ference. For more than a century, they have 

 worked on undisturbed. The Old World has 

 been torn by wars and revolutions, yet these 

 have meant no more to Australia than so many 

 extra columns of interesting reading matter in the 

 newspapers. There are many Australians who 

 act as though this golden reign of peace would 

 last for ever. 



Yet Australians have had some sharp re- 

 minders that their lands are broad and their 

 people few. From time to time, some great 

 European Power has coveted one of the many 

 islands that dot the near Pacific waters, and has 

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