■v)^. Register ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 597 Such is the historical record of this newspaper. It would be difficult to appraise the full influence which the Register has had on the affairs of the Province in moulding public thought, in leading the way for useful innovations, and in furthering the just rights of all citizens, high or low. The Revieiv of Revieivs, in the Australasian edition for October, 1893, says: — "In a broad generalisation, the Register may be described as always having held itself aloof from and independent of political parties ; and, in many cases, instead of acting as the official voice — the trumpeter before the throne — it has given to some of the dominant politicians of the day the suggestions of and materials for many of their edicts. It has ever been broadly liberal in its sentiments, and, whilst it has championed collectivism in all cases where individualism would not .so well conserve the public interest, it has most stoutly contended for the exercise of personal freedom of speech and of opinion. Sectional predominance it has discountenanced, whether regarding industrial matters or anything else. It has been a fighting paper from the beginning, and has steadfastly refused to be the organ of any party." There is no doubt that it has frequently forced the hand of the authorities when they lagged, and there is equally no doubt that it has so affected public opinion that important policies have been demanded with a determined voice. It has been as a bulwark to the State from the beginning. The editors of the Register have been celebrated in the Province. Mr. George Stevenson, Mr. James Allen (author of a "History of Australia"), Mr. John Stephens, and others, have already been sufficiently referred to. Mr. A. Forster's " History of South Australia" obtained highly complimentary criticisms at the time of its publication; and the same gendeman rendered the Province considerable service in advocating, and afterwards supportmg, responsible government. It was he who piloted through the Legislative Council that valuable measure the Real Property Act, which has been the model for legislation in many parts of the world. The literary calibre of Mr. John Howard Clark is well remembered by old colonists. Besides ably editing the Register, he "conducted a literary column in which playful fancy and pungent satire were blended under the heading of ' Elchoes from the Bush,' by ' Geoffiy Crabthorn.' " Messrs. Richard Wells, William Harcus, W. R. Lawson, and Moubray Morris were at one time connected with the paper, and each acquired no moderate fame with the pen. Mr. J. H. Finlayson's work in the editorial chair is so well-known that it is not necessary to remind South Australians of its excellence. He is a splendid organiser, and his sensible leaders carried great weight in the Province. In 1899 he proceeded to England, where he is acting as London correspondent to the Register; and Mr. W. J. Sowden, for many years prominently associated with the paper, now occupies the position of editor. Perhaps the most valuable part of Mr. Sowden's work lay in his energetic and patriotic support of the Commonwealth Bill, and for the preponderating vote in favor of that measure the Register claims a great share of praise. Mr. R. K. Thomas controls the commercial affairs of the Register, and is a worthy descendant of a worthy sire and grandsire. In equipping the office with the latest mechanical contrivances, he and his partners have shown much enterprise ; and, from its present strength and pojuilarity, it may be assumed that the Register in the future, as in the past, will "exercise a commanding influence in the Province now constituted a State.
