MISCELLANEOUS.

Colonist, Issue 1, 23 October 1857, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

THE PitOGIiESS OF VICTORIA. From Sj/difif Morning Herald of 28lh September. It is not necessary now to insist that the prosperity of Victoria, so f'tr from detracting from our happiness, is essential to our welfare. We need not .show that if wo have not advanced with equal steps as a community, our individuol well-being has k^pt pace fully with our "Victorian neighbours. The idle jealousies of colonies arc beneath their destiny. We shall all advance not by indulging these jealousies but hv rising above them. We should Vie ginl to see the, Victorian Legislature take the lead in just legislation; and tho Melbourne merchants set an example of commercial liberality. Wo cannot imagine that any comparative elevation in the position of that noble co ony could lower New South Wales.

It is in this spirit that we Ihvp witch"d the progress of Victoria, and it is in this spirit that we have noticed some points which, if they do not 11.-itler, arc not intended to stigmatize*. Tho colony has shown under whn.t moral and s<vial disadvantage* a-British community can develop itself; out oi'wlnt in':o:igruon.s matcria's greatness m.-ty be built up; how substances of but littly afiinky can ho kneaded together.

The community of Victoria is a mixed one. Sid<? by side we-find largo sections of people who have-no national sympathy with each othjr. Tasmania, supplied the first colonists; a few from Now South Wales followed': then ensued a large employing Scottish immigration ; then a sfivam of Irish, at the expense of the land fund; then followed an importation of emancipated convicts, brought over the Straits by employers; then fallowed a still larger mass of the same clwn who arrived at their own charge; then came the Hoods of people allured by the goldmines:—people of various' foreign u-ttions—tho Americans, tho Germans—and within an incredibly short period a vast horde of Chinamen. When we consider how distinct these inhibifcsuits of Victoria are in nation, language and habits; how great the moral difference between them ; that every point of contact was likely to prove a point of collision, we c.-m fed no amazement that there has been, some confusion, dissonance, and even conflict. The time occupied in forming tho Victoria colony is so short, that we have nothing to compare with its growth. There >*.re in America iuw States and cities which have been pointed out as examples of hot-housa rapidity, but they }wo possessed the resources of vast hives in the rear, on the samo territory. Victoria sUnds out alone-!

From this want of affinity in the Victorian population wo have soon and had a right to expect ebullitions. Accordingly every distinct element of the Victorian population has shown the irritation of contact, and at different tinvs displayed a hostile spirit. There were in the first stages of the colony national and sectarian demonstrations. Shits w.-re exchanged between the partizws of AVilli^m of Orange and ribbon-men. The ronviets of Van Pieman's L?.nrl fought pitched battles with tho men of Tipparary. Since, the gold discovery other grounds of quarrel have heen found, but thoy t have perhaps been fewer than might have bzen anticipated. The mot formidable have been tho fatal collision with the soldiers at the goldlMda— mil, not the least disgraceful, the attack on the Chinese at the diggings. , . . . An' enumeration of the industrial achievements of Victoria—its financial institutions, its numerous charities, its churdies and schools, its wharves and railroads would be the b;«t eulogy on its people; for all these aro the work of 20 years. The enquirer is told there were among these twenty, years of stand-still; years of commercial depression; years of deficient employment : years of bad government; and, indeed, a Jong course of misrule, lie is told that revenues have been misspent, and ina'vcisation of all sorts practised, from tho representative of the Crown down to the constable. But with all these deductions, and with all these Oppositions offering and interest, we have a result which is the world's wonder—-a community of 8000 in 1887, " precipitated into a nation " —in 1857,400,000. 'Victoria has room for exultation and perhaps self-esteem, but there arc some dark spots on the otherwise fair pages of its history. It has violated great' moral laws,in dealing with social difficulties. We have seen the acquittal of the insurgents stained with blood, against evidence the most unquestionable; the enactment of oppressive laws against discharged convicts; and the oppression of helpless foreigners, because offensive to narrow prejudices. These are facts which show a Weakness of principe and a want of stamina, which, when it extends far, enfeebles, disorganizes, and destroys a community. .

Of the political state of Victoria no judgment can yet be formed. On several occasions the spirit of a wild democracy has threatened to burst every constitutional boundary, and swamp the abiding interests of the colony. There is, however, underneath all these surges, some foundation of solid rock. Nothing: but blindness the most complete can hide from any man of property that lie must suffer, whoever gains, by the disturbance of society; by the feebleness of Government : by the dishonor of the Courts of Law; by the impunity of .sedition; by the reckless expenditure'of public money, ami by whatever dislocates the various classes from their naturalrelations.' ■

The principles of Government which prevail in so young a- country are far more important than the names of the Minister.-) who' embody them. The patty politics of Victoria no one can understand who lives over the border; but we can all understand when Jiiimsn rights fire violated, when law is more feeble than iketio»B,'.or'when ,i Government strains its financial credit to support its party in the Assembly and appease the demands of a thoughtless populace.