VICTORIAN DEMOCRACY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1815, 15 December 1879, Page 3

VICTORIAN DEMOCRACY.

The "Saturday Review” of October 4th had an article on Victorian democracy, from wiioh the follow ng is »n extract: —It appears that the reduction to an absurdity of democratic theory and practice is provoking resistance oven in the Assembly of Victoria and among the constituencies. Farmers and tradesmen begin to object both to taxes imposed for the maintenance of idle workmen with votes, and to tribute paid, not even to the Government, but to a few local manufacturers. The exclusion of the independent and intelligent classes from political power must always have been felt by themselves as a hardship. The rest of the community perhaps begins to suspect that its interests are not most effectually promoted by the supremacy of turbulent adventurers. As there is no aristocracy in Victoria, it has been thought expedient to visit with political excommunication the bettor class of tradesmen and professional men. Two or three recent elections have shown that public opinion is beginning to revolt against the misgovernment of the present Ministers. Absolute power, nominally vested in the majority of the population, is practically wielded by demagogues, who fortunately become objects of envy to their own less successful rivals. Mr Parnell cannot attempt to force his own dictation on a convention, or Mr Berry on a single and supreme Assembly, without giving offence to the equals whom he seeks to reduce to insignificance. The fall of the typical demagogue Robespierre was caused less immediately by his unprecedented crimes than by the selfish system which at last found vent in the murder of Danton and his friends. The successors of the dictator had not intention of suppressing the guillotine when they •consulted their own safety by the destruction of the tyrant. If Mr Berry falls a victim to the jealousy which he has provoked, his unpopularity may perhaps extend to the detestable policy of his Government. For Englishmen the main interest of the petty politics of Victoria consists in the illustration which is furnished of the operation of universal suffrage. The doctrines of Birmingham are the same which now prevail at Melbourne, though their real tendency is disguised as long as older and sounder institutions still regulate B ocial and political life.