VICTORIAN DEMOCRACY.

Inangahua Times, 19 January 1880, Page 2

VICTORIAN DEMOCRACY.

The ' Saturday Review ' of October 4th had an article on Victorian democracy, from which the following is an extract :— It appears that the reduction to an absurdity of democratic theory and practice is proyoking resistance eyen io

!^^^^^^^^^^^^^Bnmanicatioa the^^^^^^^^^^^H. professional men/^^^^^^H^^Velections have shown tna^l^^^Kinion is beginning to revolt against tn^nisgovernment of the present Ministers. Absolute power, nominally yested in the majority of the population, is practically wielded by demagogues, who fortunately become objects of envy to their own less success* ful rivals. Mr Parneli 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 in** significance. 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 bis 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 the Government: For Englishmen tbe main interest of the petty politics of Victoria consists ia the illustration which is furnished of the operation of universal suffrage. The doctrines of Birmingham are tbe same which now prevail at Melbourne, though their real tendency is disguised as lons* as older and sounder institutions still regulate social and political life.