THE RESIGNATION OF THE BERRY MINISTRY IN VICTORIA.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 108, 2 April 1880, Page 4

THE RESIGNATION OF THE BERRY MINISTRY IN VICTORIA.

The Sydney Herald's Melbourne correspondent 'writes to that journal under date March 6th as follows : << Wo breathe once more with something like a sense of security. The reign of misrule is over, and the cruel despots who, for three years, have so abused their opportunities, are about to relinquish their hold upon our liberties. The majority for the Constitutional party is unmistakeable. One of the Ministry is defeated and there had nearly been two, and the remainder will meet their supporters confronted with an opposition which for compactness, talent, and definiteness, has not before been seen in this Colony. The reaction from Berryism to order is signal. That the Berry delusion should still prevail in certain quarters, where they never give consideration to more than the liberal side of the question, was to be expected. That Collingwood should return a Mirams, and Fitzroy a Vale, is nothing wonderful. These places are the hot-beds and nurseries of nar-now-minded demagoguism, where the prejudices of the uninformed run riot. Nor is it to be wondered at that Geelong should have sent back the Chief Secretary considering all the latent and local influences which were brought to bear upon the. electors. But this success is more than balanced by the defeat of Sir Bryen O’Loghlen at West Melbourne, for the Ministry had set their hearts upon gaining a victory in that quarter, and, to make doubly sure of it, they had concentrated their energies upon one candidate. This, therefore, is a crushing blow, both to the Mil istry generally, and (o the Attorney-General specially. For unless by a sort of coup (Veto,l they now catapult him on to the Bench, he must go back to the drudgery of the Bar, where his prospects are not lirilliam. Saturday, although one of the wettest days we have had for some time, will deserve to be associated with sunshine in the history of this Colony, when it is remembered what an act of social deliverance it represents. And yet although it was evident all day that everybody's mind was bent in one direction, and that the issue of the vot in" was the dominant topic in everybody’s thoughts, there was not more outward movement than is customary at elections. Hired vehicles, with placards on them, were driven about a good deal, and perhaps the crowds round the polling places were

a little larger than ordinary. But a stranger, ignorant of the important principle contended for, would have been impressed no further than that it was an election day. To those able to compare the common physiognomy with what it ordinarily expresses, however, there was no difficulty in concluding that some very weighty matter was preponderating over all others. All the talk was of the election. Two men could not meet under any circumstances without speaking of it. The common enquiry was—- “ Well, how do you think it is likely to go V’ Towards evening there was much gathering of crowds ; and at a later period, in front of thenewspaper offices, and wherever the results were posted up, there were large crowds. The Herald and the Argus published special editions containing the most recent information, and these were eagerly bought up. It was long after midnight before the thronged streets began to empty. Yesterday (Sunday) the Herald published two special editions, the fiist being issued just when people were coming out of church, and it was amusing to seehow the extremely devout and solemn persons bought the papers and read them as they walked, in defiance of all the proprieties. To-day, it seems as if a thick fog had suddenly been lifted from off the earth, and that the sun and blue sky, which had been long hidden, were visible again. The constitutional Press is, of necessity, hopeful and very jubilant. The “liberal ” Press is not jubilant, and not hopeful. In its opinion, the Colony has taken a retrograde step, for which it will one day be sorry. Its plebiscite is doomed, there is an end to the sixth clause, and the nominee proposal is heard of for the last time. Payment of members is doomed also, and, in a general way, the deluge has come to Berryism. There is lamentation in the abodes of the liberals, but there is rejoicing among all those who desire to live at peace and enjoy the fruits of honest industry. I have been met by several old friends from Saturday night up to this moment, a»d they each one spoke of the victory as a thing to be thankful for, as we are thankful when deliverance comes from a terrible calamity.”