The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-18


26th of September, is of highly interesting cha
racter in a political point Of view. 1t would seem
that the miners had been holding primary meet
ings and mass meetings, and adopting petitions
to the colonial government to reduce the license
to the gold diggers to ten shillings British per
month. These men showed some alarming
symptoms of revolt. The Governor rejected
their petition. They then held larger and more
formidable meetings marched in procession
with arms and bands of music to the camp Of
the Commissioners, and rendered the Chief Com
missioner license fee of ten shillings EACH
The offer was refused. They then resolved to
hold another meeting on the first Of September,
and in the meantime to wear red ribbon as
badge, in token oftheir determination not to take
out licenses. The Legislative Council met at
Victoria on the 3Oth Of August. This was the
crisis. After some discussion the council caved
| in, and the fee was reduced to forty shillings
for the next three months, which was nearly all
that the miners asked. Thus do The colonial
and home authorities always act under the pres
sure from without. By giving way at the last
moment they anticipate and battle rebellion.
During the last year public attention in this
country has been directed, in more than ordi-
nary degree to Australia and Tasmania, or
Van Dieman's Land. The gold discovery in
those regions. and the effect it has produced,
has turned all eyes to the South Pacific. The
escape thence Of John Mitchell and his recent
arrival among us, have still more excited in
quiry into the status OF those far distant colo
MES the British empire. A good deal Of mis-
apprehension in regard to them, and particu-
larry as to their present political condition and
future prospects, appears to exist in the public
mind both in England and the United States.
1t is very generally believed that those colonies
are in revolutionary volcanic state, ready at
any moment to fame into Instruction, and to
throw off the British yoke, as the North Ameri-
can colonies did some seventy-ive years ago.
This is grand mistake. There is no immediate
prospect of revolution in Australia. If there
were, it is not very likely that John Mitchell
would have left so fine country and so beau
titul climate, and have foregone SO magnificent
an opportunity Of furthering his designs with
regard to his native land. Being by profession
rebel and revolutionist against the British
throne and government he would have been
but too happy to have acted leading part in
the drama. 1t is evident, therefore, that he
does not believe there is any idea of rcvolu-
ton at present in the colonies Of Australia.
But this is not merely logical inference how
ever inevitable we have direct authority for
stating that such is his decided opinion on the
subject. Under the circumstances that opinions
highly valuable; for Mr.. Mitchell has resided long
enough in the country to know all about 1t, and
especially oil about any revolutionary tenden-
cies that might exist. He is keen observer,
and having been anxiously on the qui riue for
signs of general revolt his not being able to
discern them is proof positive that they are not
there.
This view of the case may seem unaccount-
ably strange considering that the people have
it in their power at any moment to effect
revolution almost without the shedding Of a
drop Of blood. But it is confirmed by close
examination OF the newspaper press of the
country, and by deductions from the recent his
tory Of the colonies. The reason why the Aus
traiians do not raise the standard of revolt and
set up republic is, that they get everything
they want from the British government, and
have not sufficient incentives for rebellion. The
home government, conscious Of the weak
ness Of their power there yield concession
after concession and will not risk the danger
Of an explosion and formal separation. They
are 10000 miles distant, they have no military
force in the country to keep down sn insurrec-
ton or prevent revolution, and they there
fore give everything that is demanded from
them. The people laugh at the authority of |
the British Government, and are substantially |
far more free than if they lived in England.
They are so prosperous, too, and their minds are
SO engaged in amassing wealth that they have
but little inclination for political matters.
There can be no doubt that at some future
day the Australian Colonies will become con-
federated republic, after the model of the
United States. But that day does not seem to
be very near. Australia, it appears to US, is
in transition state, and will slowly and gra-
dually arrive at the same result, by peaceful
progress that this country attained by seven
wears war, ard by the blood Of SO many thou
sands of her sons.
When we take up the newspapers OF that
country, we find that the leading journal, the
.argus, which sustains the same posi-
ton with regard to the rest of the press that
the Times does to the newspapers of England,
and that the New YORK HERALD does to the press
of the United States-we find the .drgus openly
advocating republicanism day after day-what
no journal in Great Britain would venture to
do. The .argus, which is as large as the Lon
don Times, and like it publishes supplement
has circulation of thirteen thousand copies
which is immense for so small population. 1t
is edited by two Scotchmen, and exerts pow
erful influence over the public mind. The go
vernment authorities never dream of prosecut-
ing its articles; and the impunity which that
how nrncpnfad a II rinus