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The Dissemination of New Idealist Thought in Australian Print and Radio Media from 1885 to 1945 The dissemination of New Idealist thought in Australian print and radio media from 1885 to 1945 Margaret Van Heekeren MA (Modern History), BA (Communication) This thesis is presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Macquarie University Department of Modern History, Politics and International Relations 2 December 2011 0 Contents Abstract 3 Statement of Candidate 4 Acknowledgements 5 Introduction 6 New Idealism 10 New Idealism in Australia 13 Public intellectualism 21 Australian Media and Journalism History 27 Methodology 34 Organisation of the thesis 38 Chapter One - The “organic filament”: New Idealist thought and the media 41 Philosophy and public intellectualism 42 New Idealist thought on journalism 46 Australian Idealist thought on journalism 52 Chapter Two - “Higher order journalism”: Australian print journalism, talks programming and New Idealism 68 Australian New Idealists in the media 69 Newspaper management and editorships 1885 – 1945: Sydney Morning Herald 72 Newspaper management and editorships 1885 – 1945: Daily Telegraph, Advertiser and Register 85 Radio talks programming and New Idealist thought 90 Media coverage of philosophy and political thought including British Idealism 94 Chapter Three - “Fire, life, inspiration”: Australian Idealists in the media on education 104 The development of education in Australia 107 The role of the state in education 111 School education for social and political citizenship 122 Teacher training and parents as teachers 128 University and Adult Education 137 1 Chapter Four - “The problem of today and tomorrow”: Australian Idealists in the media on the state and society 149 Historical context of the state and society in Australia 151 Liberty and rights 154 The Australian Idealist conception of state 160 State intervention 164 The role of the state – from theory to practice 172 Chapter Five - “The hand that turned the key”: Australia and the world 179 Foundations of internationalism 184 Patriotism and nationalism 197 Australia in the Commonwealth, the region and the world 201 Chapter Six - “Unite or perish”: War and Post-war Reconstruction 210 Australia and world war 212 Causes of War 215 The League of Nations 218 Post-Second World War reconstruction 229 Duty in time of war 235 Chapter Seven - “A bridge between minds”: The media and public reception of Australian Idealism 243 Readers and listeners 246 Response to Australian Idealist views on education 250 Response to Australian Idealist views on the state 257 Response to Australian Idealist views on international relations and war and post-war reconstruction 262 Conclusion 271 Bibliography 284 Archival Sources 284 Newspaper Articles 284 Radio Transcripts 295 Other Original/Contemporary Sources 297 Secondary Sources 301 2 Abstract This thesis argues that journalism has been neglected as a major source in researching histories of ideas and public intellectualism in Australia. It responds to calls by historians for a close examination of journalism and undertakes an extensive survey of articles from 1885 to 1945 in the Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph, Adelaide Advertiser and Register newspapers and transcripts of Australian Broadcasting Commission talks programs. The study focuses on one form of philosophical and political thought, New Idealism, which has received little detailed academic attention in Australia. New Idealism, also known as British Idealism, was a philosophical movement of the mid to late nineteenth century and first half of the twentieth century that migrated to Australia with the former students of the British philosophers T. H. Green (1836 – 1882) and Edward Caird (1835 – 1908). New Idealism was very much a practical philosophy and its followers were just as likely to be found in public lecture halls and on school boards as in university offices. In Australia this public face of New Idealism extended to the media. The thesis identifies a considerable body of previously unknown work in newspaper articles and radio broadcasts by five Australian Idealist thinkers: William Jethro Brown (1869-1930); Francis Anderson (1858 – 1941); Mungo MacCallum (1854- 1942); Garnet Vere Portus (1883 – 1954) and Ernest Burgmann (1885 – 1967). Four areas of thought as revealed in the media are examined: on education; the role of the state; international relations and war and post-war reconstruction. The thesis finds a sympathetic media, particularly the Sydney Morning Herald under the proprietorship of the Fairfax family, facilitated coverage of these debates and enabled the Australian Idealists to have, at times, considerable influence as public intellectuals. This leads to a conclusion that an historical focus on the journalistic report is a highly successful research approach in intellectual history. 3 Statement of Candidate I certify that the work in this thesis entitled ‚The dissemination of New Idealist thought in Australian print and radio media from 1885 to 1945” has not previously been submitted for a degree nor has it been submitted as part of requirements for a degree to any other university or institution other than Macquarie University. I also certify that the thesis is an original piece of research and it has been written by me. Any help and assistance that I have received in my research work and the preparation of the thesis itself have been appropriately acknowledged. In addition, I certify that all information sources and literature used are indicated in the thesis. Margaret Van Heekeren (40500462) 2 December 2011 4 Acknowledgments While researching and writing this thesis I was accompanied by a mental image of a mountain hike. Time after time, it seemed the summit was over the next rise but upon reaching a rise I would see, not the summit, but yet another alluring panorama. This image has become the metaphor of this thesis. At times it seemed insurmountable, but then, a panorama of unforeseen knowledge would appear, providing inspiration and stamina. The summit was always there, waiting - it was just of matter of following the signposts. For this thesis the signposts and immeasurable guidance were provided by three inspiring supervisors: principal supervisor Ian Tregenza was a constant stalwart, providing calm insight and an expansive knowledge of the history of political thought; associate supervisor Bridget Griffen-Foley went above and beyond through her dedicated guidance, wisdom and unwavering support; adjunct supervisor Marnie Hughes-Warrington, formerly of Macquarie and currently of Monash University, serendipitously set me on this path and, in the words of Henry Jones, kept me ‚on the strain for better things‛. I thank them all for their dedication and belief. Appreciation is also extended to Murray Goot for his insightful comments and Rod Kirkpatrick for providing much needed assistance in South Australian newspaper history. Institutionally, the support of Macquarie University, the Faculty of Arts and the Department of Modern History, Politics and International Relations has been instrumental in the production of the thesis. Acknowledgement is also due to my employer and colleagues at Charles Sturt University for their support and encouragement. Much of the research for thesis was enabled by a wealth of librarians and archivists at the Mitchell Library and State Reference Library in Sydney, St Mark’s Theological College in Canberra, the National Archives of Australia, the National Library of Australia, the State Library of South Australia, Fairfax Company Archives, the Archives of the University of Sydney, the Bodleian Libraries and Balliol College Archives, Oxford and, always, the Macquarie University Library and Charles Sturt University Library, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga campuses. Incalculable and always substantial was the support of many friends and family, especially my husband Brett and children Roan and Anna. I thank you all for your enduring patience and love that provided much needed sustenance for this journey. 5 Introduction 1 s inquisitors of humanity, journalism and philosophy have much in A common. Both disciplines are founded on inquiry, research and the interpretation and publication of findings. They share a responsibility to society by informing public debate on social and political issues.2 Despite these similarities there has been little academic exploration of the relationship between the two disciplines. This thesis details a particular convergence of philosophy and journalism, exploring the dissemination of New Idealist thought in Australian print and radio media in Sydney and Adelaide between 1885 and 1945 by five Australian thinkers, William Jethro Brown (1868 – 1930), Francis Anderson (1858 – 1941), Mungo 1 Clipping from a Sydney Morning Herald article which gave the full text of a lecture by Francis Anderson on T.H.Green. Francis Anderson, "A Modern Philosopher - Green of Balliol," Sydney Morning Herald, 11 October 1890, p.7. 2 Jay Newman, The Journalist in Plato's Cave (Cranbury, NJ: Associated University Presses, 1989), p.17. 6 MacCallum (1854 – 1942), Garnet Vere Portus (1883 – 1954) and Ernest Burgmann (1885 – 1967).3 The thesis is a history and not a work of philosophy. Four historical fields of equal significance are traversed: the history of Idealist thought; the history of philosophy and political thought in Australia; the history of public intellectualism in Australia and, through the approach taken in the thesis, Australian journalism/media history. Histories of philosophy, political thought and public intellectualism are commonly united in scholarship yet
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