The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-30
AUSTRALIA.
Social and Political Condition Of the People.

From the Melbourne Age
The three weeks which have elapsed since
the preparation of our last summary, transmit
ted to Europe by the Lightning and Pacific,
have been rather barren of incidents bearing
upon our social progress. Our advancement
is steady and unftful-a measured march, in
place OF the old impetuous charge; and there
is less chance of our being dismayed by
sudden, panic or disheartened by temporary
reverse.
A popular movement for the establishment
OF suburban municipalities has eventuated in a
sort of corporate "swarming off, from the
parent hive, and the four districts of East Col
lingwood, Richmond, Prahran, and st. Kilda,
were each proclaimed municipalities in the Ga
zette of the oath instant. There is something
remarkable in the natural aptitude which the
British people everywhere evince for selfgov-
eminent, the faculty with which they improvise
municipalities and cognate institutions, in
whatever quarter of the globe they establish
themselves, and the ready submission they &C.
cord to imposts and regulations, which frequent
ly bear oppressively upon the individual, but
which have been levied or framed with polite
regard to the welfare and security of all.
We have been treated with criminal I'M ustice
by Festus, and we carry our appeal to Caesar.
We ask the Imperial Government; should these
things be? Is the Old World theory-of the
many being made for the few-so vigorous and
so full of life in Great Britain, that you can
venture to detach slip of the poison-plant, and
insert it in so uncongenial soil as that of AUS
tralia? If privilege maintains a disputed and
uncertain footing in an old and aristocratic
country like your own, will it be tolerated here
If monopoly is staggering beneath the assaults
of its enemies, in the citadel where it once
deemed itself impregnable, can it hope to plant,
fortress in Victoria, where it is execrated as
curse, and loathed as an infamy? We tell you
plainly that against Privilege and Monopoly the
people of this Colony will contend to the last
extremity. These monstrous evils may be over
thrown by legal and constitutional means, if
the Imperial Government is wise, and cares
anything for the retention of its Colonial ap.
panage. They aciU be ocerthro,cn IN any and
eocry erent The discovery of our gold fields
rescued you from'the jaws of bankruptcy; anc
the enormous expansion of commerce, OCCASION
ed by our wants, furnished employment fof
your people, and impaired elasticity to your
revenue. DO you o,oe as no gratitude? Car
you offer as no returns Be assured, that i
you violate your duty as parent, zoe shall mo-
be sloso to renom,ace our lial obedience as yo,e'
offspring.
If this unanimity were once gained, the sou.
uOn OF our dlfhcultleS would be comparatively
easy. If the colonists of Victoria would bus
agree to join in giving public expression to the
sentiment which pervades every class, and fills
every mind in the community, the real remedy
for their political evils would be readily found.
The people will not be cajoled into receiving, as
a boon and proof of craftsmanship, measure
which is in reality proposed as bait for popu-
larity. If they wish to have the new Constitu-
ton prematurely proclaimed they will only
have it 40 the corollary to Sir Charles Hotham's
dismissal. 1t is too late noso to turn the tide of
popular feeling. No number of meetings of
the Executive Council, no number of commits
sions, no amount of newborn (fctitious) zeal for
the public welfare, no quantity of journalistic
maunderings in never-so-bad English-not euen
the proclamation of the nep Constitution-,cM
restore the confidence that has gone foreuer, or
eradicate the deep distrust that has taken root
in every mind. Gradually, but surely, the
crisis we have long anticipated is coming, and
exactly in the order we have predicted. 1t will
not be long before the entire population of Vic.
toria will unanimously declare that the real
remedy for their grievances and their wrongs
embraces both the dismissal of Sir Charles
Hotham and reuised new Constitution-and
both these they will have-or else the alternative