The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-09-10
M'KINLEYIsM AT THE ANrIPoDRs.

this late date, bears marks of an Ameri-
can civilization. Its broad streets and
massive commercial buildings call to
mind Ottawa, Toronto and even Chi
cago, rather than London. Liverpool
and Manchester. For ak years prior to
1855 the rush OF Argonauts from the
eastern states was at the ratio OF five to
California to two that went to the land
of the kangaroo. In 1861. just prior to
the "Callao rush," the city of Mel
bourne had SO. 2S7 Americans in a total
population of 127, 643. Hence it IL not
to be wondered at that it should lean
towards many American ideas, especi-
ally those OF q commercial nature.
New South Wales, on the other hand,
was essentially British in everything,
and went in for free trade in everything
but articles of luxury.
With her proneness to initiate Amer
lea in many essentials of government.
it was not to be wondered at that Dun
can Gillies, aqusrtz miner from Bsllarat,
should be called to the portfolio of
prime minister of Victoria in 1886. He
was a man of limited education, but
perfect walking warehouse OF informs-
ton, gifted with a good address, q
pleasant face and a flow OF language so
forcible that it entirely oblitersted the
Gaelic burr of his dialect. Gillies was
an ardent admirer OF William Mckinley,
and declared in his speech, accepting
bis portfolio, that he was disposed to
treat all persons as foreigners Outside of
Victoria, and that he Favored pro-
tective tariff for that colony which
would put even England and Canada on
a common footing with France, Ger
many and America. See what America
has done with her protective system OF
government. My word for it, you can
never hope to have the American pros
perity until you have the American
protection"
Under this shibboleth the mercantile
and manufacturing classes rallied to the
support of Gillies till the great land
boom OF 1888 exploded. There was no
money for anything. Inspired by the
legislation inaugurated by demsgogues
of the worst stripe, the working classes
began to imagine that their employers
had no rights that their workmen were
bound to respect. The consequence was
that capitalists refused to embark any
money in manufactures, but either in
vested in quartz or wool growing, or else
locked up their money altogether in
safe deposit boxes.
The consequences was bankruptcy on
all sides. Men who deemed themselves
wealthy in 1856 became SO reduced as to
dispense with servants in their houses.
Among the working classes o fearful
condition of affairs prevailed. Men
committed suicide by the dozen, and
the ranks of unfortunate women re-
ceived hourly recruits OF girls who had
sought the path OF shame as the only
| alternative for starvation.
In 1892 came the deposition OF the
Gillies ministry and the election OF
James Patterson rs premier. He was 3
man OF good common sense. and street
contractor by occupation. His first
move was to reduce the duties, in the
hope OF increasing imports 80 as to pro-
vide revenue for the colony. He had
found an impoverished treasury, and
was proceeding to build up it's shattered
finances, but the task WAS q slow one.
In q recent editorial ON this subject the
Melbourne Argus makes a few utter.
ances which have their application in
our own land:
There 10 no gain to the country wher
ministers halt between two opinions
when their steps are timid and uncer
tain, when they are swayed, not by any
fixed principle, but merely by consider
atoms of opportunism. The remission
in the duties are only paltry. This
however, might have been forgiven baC
the treasurer shown the slightest appre
citation of the fact that, in the presen
condition OF the colony, it 10 necessary
to work downwards towards o revenue
producing tariff. As ID stands, thu
budget contains no expression or hint o
o financial principle. There ia to be
, slight manipulation OF the duties. Blu
ministers do not seem to have realized
that, when prohibition has failed an,
the income is falling off, the great objsc
} must be to 80 adjust the tariff that
: will yield the increased revenue. 1t i
, an easy thing to say that the people
: have less to spend than formerly, an
. that this fact accounts for the decline i
the customs returns. With lower dutie
the money that they possess would 8
further, and, what is Of more impor
ance, would be more largely paid int
, the Golfers of the government. Unds
the high tariff system people have
buy clothing and implements and q
the pecessaries OF life and work. BIZ
the exchsquer receives no benefit. III
whole of the price il paid into the banl
: ing accounts of private firms. With
more liberal tariff the treasurer OF II
day would receive larger share OF Il
money at the customs house. And it
9 from this broad point of view that
. statesman Is expected to consider tt
i matter.
j. The situation across the Pacific is
a parallel to our own. The high tar
n was prohibition placed upon imports
l. tions, and, as in other cases, prohibitic
9 proved to be failure. With the er
II barge upon imports came the inevitab
IS cessation OF revenue until the mo
It American of all British colonies foun
If herself on the verge of bankruptcy.
: return to first principles was therefor