The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-14 00:00:00

OUR POLITICAL CONDITION.

It is gratifying to record that our political pro-
spects are somewhat brightening, despite many
standing grievances of the most irritating descrip-
tion. The concession to the local Legislature of
the absolute control of the revenue derivable from
gold, is an act reflecting great credit on Sir John
Pakington, and fraught with advantage to the
colony. The Legislative Council has been pro-
rogued for a month, in order to give the Govern-
ment time to frame the estimates, in accordance
with the liberal provisions of the Colonial Minis-
ter's dispatch. The council, we doubt not, will in-
sist upon the organisation of an adequate police
force, and take other measures to secure the sta-
bility and tranquillity of the colony. The Govern-
ment has proposed a measure for levying an ex-
port duty of half-a-crown an ounce on gold ; but it
remains to be seen whether this proposal will meet
the approval of the Council.
The debates in both houses of the Imperial Par-
liament in the month of June last, on the Griev-
ance Petition of the New South Wales Legislature,
is not creditable to the former, nor satisfactory to
the colonists. Making every allowance for the in-
appropriate time at which the subject was intro-
duced, there was yet a marked contempt for the
just claims of the colonists observable in both
houses. We look forward with deep'interest to the
discussion of the subject by the new Parliament,
and hope to see a far more liberal and enlightened
system of colonial policy advocated and adopted.
The Times is perfectly justified in speaking warmly
on this subject. The interests of the Australian
colonies will not afford to be trifled with ; and we
repeat again—what we have so often paid—that
timely attention to their wants and grievances can
alone secure to Britain the possession of them for
any lengthened period.
It would not be easy to depict accurately the
anomalous aspect of society around us at this mo-
ment. The broad distinctive features of English
social life are almost wholly lost in a colony, and

the gold discoveries have powerfully aided 6obli-
terate them here. The character of society is ra-
pidly assuming the American type, and into that
form it will settle down permanently ere long.
Personal independence in speech and act, self-asser-
tion, scorn of conventional distinctions, and an.all-
absorbinff pursuit of wealth, as almost the only
object of existence, are the characteristics induced
in the individual by the new pursuit. The accom-
panying vices are also prevalent, as might have
been anticipated. Where these elements of cha-
racter preponderate, society can never be moulded
after the English model. They are palpably
stamped upon surrounding society even now, and
are daily becoming more distinct. In this signifi-
cant fact, more than in any possible political
changes, do we read the character of Australia ;
and once more we solemnly warn those upon whom
our destinies at present depend, that they must be
careful what they do ; that their very largest,
boldest, broadest policy may prove to be too con-
tracted for the wants of such astonishing times as
these ; and that the day is fast approaching when,
if they will persist in meddling in matters which
they can neither understand, nor from distance
manage if they could, they will bring on a result
that will probably furnish far more reason for re-
gret to Great Britain than it is at all likely to fur-
nish to Australia.