New-York tribune., 1868-12-19
AUSTRALIA.
co,o oNJ.L DEPRNCEs THE PRESS POLITICS,
THEIR COURSE AND TENDENCY-THE CON
ITUTIoN-sETTLEMENr OF THE LANDs-
SAruRAL RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY, ETC.
IyeoM OUR SPECIAL CoRRRsPoEDENTl


Whom the volunteer movement began IN EhBianu
all Australia took up the idea, md the victorian
ooisture Immediately passed All act authorizing the
o,roll,,ent Of 10000 men. The authorities at the
same time ntimated that tho power of tho net Wouu
only be partially used, to tho extent or 6VVo Oh a
arms; and this number was almost immediateV
filed up At the first grand review that took piaco
Mt Melbourne nearly 1000 volunteers we're on inc
pround. of whom more than 500 were cavalry wei
mounted and equipped The uniform chosen was In
most regiments gray color arrived al aiter ions
consideration and many experiments In oil 1gn's'
military spirit seized tho whole community. DriilS
were constant target practice incessant money apun
dant. and the Government organization so good that
at the close of the first the force had become
in all respects thoroughly fit for service. The whole
sonI Of the people seemed to be put into the cause
and now the volunteer forco here, as in England has
beoome n permanent institution. which promises TO
rlsv AN active part in the future history OF the
colony. ~.
Victoria possesses also. the beginning OF steam
nayy. which has already done good service In Aus
tralian surveys and other peaceful occupations out
in case of war would be Intellectual to protect the
coasts without aid from the Home Government.
II has been said that there are twomarks by which
TO estimate tho intelligence of nation; frst the
character of ts press secondly Its skill IN handlg
the knife and fork II the latter be really sign OF
civilization Victoria must be more civilized than
either Franco or Germany. for have long been con
yjnced nfter living the Continent OF Europe, ana
close observation that few things puzzie French
man so much as those indispensable appendages 70
the dinner table Bat so far IA the remark applies 70
the press 7 think It's truth is universally admitted.
Tested then by this Victoria still has nothing to fear
In oyery town and upon every goldfed there IL
neyspa1,er or more and "A rule they are conducted
viii, spirit and talent. In Melbourne The Argus and
10s fake tho lead among the dailies aud have rep
resented respectively tho causes OF conservation or
OF the sauattocracythe old landed interest, and OF
progress and popular freedom The parties thus de-
fined have fought a long and sometimes acrimonious
fight which is not yet ended but bids fair to bring
about sooner or later a fundamental change in tho
Constitution.
The story is briefly this. Before the discovery OF
gold the public lands were leased out at an almost
nominal rent but in large tracts to individual squat
ters with preGniptiye right over $40 acres In any
part of their holding Upon these leases they pro-
duced wool N tallow and sheep in the early part OF
1851 could be bought for about a shilling each The
condition of the squatters anything but aifuent
when in that year the discovery of gold brought
thousands of immigrants to their shores and III two
or three years. by producing market close nj hanh'
Welded rapid fortunes to the occupants OF the lands
Thus far the sQuatters bad ruled the country. No
other class had had any voice in making OF executing
the laws and monopoly brought about Ms own REM
edy Miners, who had saved littlc money. sought
an Investment in providing n settled home; bnt they
coud find none the squatters persistontly opposing
any encroachments upon their fsncied right, aud tho
Legislature a. sternly forbdtng the sale Of any OF
| the public lands At length a whisper. as It were.
WA heard throughout the country. and here and
a.. "a nf the that done
them The voice grew louder. and more universal.
till at last il made itself heard in the halls Of Govern
mcnt House. aud in good time. the authorities In
! England being appealed 10. new Constitution Nas
framed aud the people took the Government to Them
| selves. Under that Constitution manhood suiirage
and the ballot were secured and aliens were al
lowed naturalization after two years residence ihc
utmost freedom to everybody was obtained
The Legislature consists OF two llOuses.Doih eiec-
tiye-and the Executive is a responsible Mnslty' a.
| in England Originally property quahucti"n rhs
been altered. and following ihs example Of lbe
House of Commons. no property - nee. .,sar{ ior
bly,. consists of sixty members, elected by Nariou,
cities and counties Tor five year,; aud s powers AMI
privileges arc cOncidcnt with those Of the Lower
House IN Britain. The Upper House, or Legislative
Council is differently constituted. IL ~ ndissoublt
although it's constitution may undetgo change.
The members are not elected by manhood snbrsge
but by a constituency which has either property or
education rs It'd qualification, qua thcy slt ~ inc
representatives, not ot ccs OF counties bnt of ltge
electoral districts. They retire in rotation, ullrh
only going out At one time aud nembcTS VINO at mo
election poll the highest number Of votes may retain
their position for ten years As might bo cxpcctcd'
the Council under these circumstance has hitherto
represented tho old party of power, Tue slnatt1s;
while the Assembly represents the eause ol progress
aud tho people. The fTamch, OF ibe Constiipp,
tion-and II was framed IN tho colony sought
TO initiate too closely the British fatllaineht'
forgetting that IN new conntry there can
be no class analogous 70 tho British PeeTage; nor
which can possess legislative functions based upon
the same principles as those which give on English
nObleInan a voice in law-makng: As experience has
proved the most inconyrnience mas arisen iIVn me
IrIespOnsiDility and the ndissOlubty OIL the pper
Chamber. Once elected there is no power by when
il can be either dissolved modified i'll character
emergency Dc controlled hy the creation of new Peers
Not so tho Council in Victoria, which can nc helther
added TO, taken from. nor destroyed and IN many
respect. 1t has shown sen equally BEYOND ine fIaeh
too the old squating privileges bad lapscd with me
elnX Of time or been too deeply encroached upon by
the steps of the miner: when too. pubic 9pnlon had
grown loud, almost stormy; then only did the Conn
ci consent To the passing OF land lay when
enabled men of small means to purchase and to eul
tiyate home ~ the county But when an etoat
the existing taxes. and imposing Others upon I'M
ported articles Of luxury that could be produced In
tho Colony, tho Upper Chamber refused further con
cesson and TO this moment tho war continues, al
though time has taken of the asperties OF the con
test; and the steady persistence OF the people
generally in spite OF opposition from the late liberal
government in England, bids fair TO be victorious.
The following changes III the Constitution have
now been discussed. Some have questioned the
utility OF tho ballot but that Is not, in my opinion,
likely to DO altered II il has no advantages. 1t at
least does no harm. Such is generally expressed
view. But in favor of the modification OF manhood
suffrage there is strong current OF public opinion
The doctrine of equal rights has not been universally
accepted in Australia and although II is considered
that overy adult male should have voice ip the
man who holds large stake in tho country. or who
has the advantages Of intellectual cultivation,