Colonial republicanism: Re-examining the impact of civic republican ideology in pre-constitution New South Wales’

William Shakespeare famously questioned the emptiness of titles when he asked 'What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet'.1 In the context of Australian colonial politics, the rose of liberty acquires a distinctly harassing perfume when attached to the name republicanism. This is unsurprising considering the bloody reputation republicanism gained through the English, American and French revolutions. In the Australian political lexicon, the term republic has more connotations than most, for its meaning has not remained diachronically static with either supporters or opponents. Australian republican history, as McKenna has noted, is frequently reduced to inaccurate stereotypes.2 Some insist that republicanism, to be named as such, must be stringently anti-monarchical and anti- British. A polarisation of monarchy and republic, British and Australian, creates a parochial view of republicanism and excludes many diverse characters and chapters from the narrative. This article contends that republican thought, especially civic republicanism, was a significant political force in mid-nineteenth century New South Wales (NSW), and that its impact was clearly present in the 1850 Legislative Council by-election. Republicanism, it will be argued, should be conceptualised as a broad church seeking to extend both political freedom and participation. While a minority of republicans, often called radicals or separatists, felt this could only be achieved though complete political severance from Britain, the vast majority saw no contradiction in retaining the British connection whilst fighting for perceived British rights and liberties. Both groups are adherents to the civic republican tradition.