The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5265, 7 February 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1878.

The course of legislation and the social institutions of the various Anglo-Saxon communities scattered over the face of the globe should always bo an interesting study for colonists. Theorists tell us that democracy will bo the government of the future ; that intellectual progress and political power amongst the masses will go hand in hand. Without venturing any opinion on the abstract question of pure democracy, wo think it will be generally admitted that in these colonies there has been a remarkable movement in the direction of adopting American institutions. The colony of Victoria has gone farther on the road than its neighbors, and there wo see the head of the Ministry setting up the claim that that branch of the Legislature which is elected on the broadest basis should bo possessed of the solo government of the country. A very instructive lesson is to bo gained from what is now taking place in America. There the whole power of electing every branch of the Legislature is, by universal suffrage, vested in the people. Hence, in the Great Republic, witli its boundless resources and unrestricted electoral rights, all advocates of democracy would expect to find that the industrial classes would have little cause for complaint as far as legislation'was concerned. Yet there come the cries from the working classes of that country that tho Government has for the last twenty years been in the hands of capitalists, that the public estate has been wasted, that single individuals have obtained blocks of laud compared to which tho famous Piako Swamp was only a trifle in extent. The recent arrivals in England of artisans from the United States will show pretty clearly tho state of the labor market in that country. It is frequently stated, and with a groat deal of truth, that Protection is responsible for tho unfavorable condition of tho working classes in America, but it must bo borne in mind that the heavy protective duties have been imposed at tho instance of those who earn their bread by tho labor of their hands. American industry has been paralysed by other causes as

well as Protection. The immense swindles which* have been perpetrated in every direction —in general and municipal government, railway swindles, steamboat swindles, etc.—have shaken the faith of sober-minded -Americans in the efficacy of Republican institutions to secure either good government or,'a satisfactory condition of society. A vast system of corruption permeates every institution in the country. Extreme democracy has failed entirely to place the relationship of labor and capital on a satisfactory basis. In maharchical England the condition of the working classes is improving rapidly; in republican America a change for the worse is taking place. . The American people are at least as intelligent as the people of ; England, but who for one moment would think of comparing the British House of Commons with the House of Representatives in the United States. Universal suffrage has undoubtedly failed to secure an able and honest class of legislators. Bribery and log-rolling prevail to an unlimited extent in Congress, whilst the British Parliament is free from such influences. Considerations like the above should make us pause before assimilating our institutions to those of America. While recognising that it is right and proper that amongst an intelligent people, such as inhabit New Zealand, the franchise should be on a very broad basis, a line must be drawn, so that the government of the country shall not be placed in the hands of any one class. Under the present electoral law, every man in the community who occupies a house fit to live in is qualified to be placed on the rolls. It is only the shifty and improvident who are debarred from exercising the franchise ; but every householder is on a level, so far as electoral rights are concerned, with the largest landowner and capitalist in the country. If the majority do not rule it is the fault of the people, and cannot be attributed .to any narrow spirit in "our electoral laws. However, in spite of everything which has been said by the demagogues, the majority of the people of this colony have ruled ! since the introduction of representative: institutions. Manhood suffrage has prevailed in some of the neighboring colonies, but in none of them has legislation been framed in so liberal a spirit as in New Zealand; in none are there less class distinctions; and in none is the laborer more worthy of his hire. The great danger to democracy lies in the return of demagogues to represent the people -. loud-mouthed fellows, who will promise anything, but will sell their votes to the:highest bidder. There is an instructive lesson to be learned from the past and present of Victoria, f It is commonly supposed that the Assembly there has been elected by manhood suffrage pure and simple; but that is a great, A few days ago we'published ari extract from the Victorian Year Book,” which'showed that four-fifths ■of those on the electoral ; roll -were, ratepayers. Before* 1863,' manhood suffrage, as the term is generally understood, was the basis of representation. But in that year, at the instance of the Conservative party, the O’Shanassy Ministry introduced a Bill providing that all ratepayers should be placed on the electoral roll. The franchise was also hedged in by many ■ restrictions. It was thought that would be an antidote to manhood suffrage... The democratic party denounced - the Bill as most iniquitous. Meetings were held all over the country, and petitions were forwarded to Parliament imploring that .it should not : be passed. However, the Bill became law, for it was one of the conditions imposed, upon a bribed majority in the-Legislative Assembly that a measure should be passed to counteract the evil effects of manhood suffrage. Well, the result of that legislation has been that from that day to this the Liberal party has been in the ascendant in Parliament. Before 1863 themonopolistseither bribed theconstituenciesorth# members. Under the present systemin Victoria the voting power is exercised by men who are possessed of settled occupations, and the consequence is that a wiser discrimination has been exercised in the return of representatives. We read in a Southern contemporary the other day that manhood suffrage has not had a fair, trial in Victoria. It would have been more near the truth to say that when on its trial it failed to secure Liberal government. It is a huge mistake to identify a low franchise with Liberalism. What was the effect of the last Reform Bill in England 1 Was it not to give the Conservatives a long lease of power. It is perfectly plain that the reduction of the franchise in England has been a blow to Liberalism, while its curtailment in the greatest of the Australian colonies has almost uninterruptedly placed ultra-Liberals in power. Napoleon 111., the man who betrayed the Republic, could always appeal with success to universal suffrage to endorse his acts. A majority of boch branches of the Legislature in the United States arc now quite willing to pass a measure which would have the effect of robbing the public creditor, and aro only prevented from doing so by President Hayes declaring his intention of vetoeing the Bill. If every householder in the country were placed upon the electoral roll, all classes in the community would be fairly represented. It would be exceedingly dangerous to havo a lower franchise ; and that is fast becoming the opinion of the most advanced Liberals of the day. .