THE CONSTITUTIONAL STRUGGLE IN VICTORIA.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 25 February 1880, Page 2

THE CONSTITUTIONAL STRUGGLE IN VICTORIA.

(Ciunes Correspondent Malvern Indepen* dent.) In my last correspondence I mentioned that there were a few among the Conservative party who oppose the ratepayers' roll scheme. This is Mr Keade's idea, one of the most liberal members of the Council. This would have met the views of the Liberals also, bat what chance it has I will detail when I deal with the present session—sufficient to say that Mr Berry offered at the last moment to abandon the Embassy if the Council would meet him on this plan, bat no action whatever was takeu, and Mr Berry went Home. I think, after this, the Liberal party cannot be blamed fo* a pro* longation of the difficulty. When Mr Berry returned, he met with an enthusiastic reception. Notwithstanding his small measure of success, it served to show this much, it showed the Liberals what a difficult task they had set them selves to accomplish, and bow necessary it was that they should be well united to obtain success. During the next recess and Mr Berry's absence in London, the conflict of opinion ran high, people were wondering how the Ministry would face the situation when the next Parliament met. The Argus and Opposition press doing the utmost in their power to write them down-* criminal charges, base imputations, errors magni* Bed, gross misrepresentations being heaped upon them. Meanwhile the Catholic agitation sprang up, a movement set on foot by the priests, extending all through the Catholic population of the Colony, its object being to obtain a scpar» ate grant from Government in aid of their own educational schools, thus breaking the secular provision of the Education Act. I may mention that our Education Act 18 free, secular and compulsory, and has no greater champion than onr press ent Ministry and their supporters. The movers in the agitation declare they will only give their vote to the condidate that will promise to obtain what they want, independent of all other political considerations whatever, declaring that their conscience is greater to them than reform protection, or anything else. On this question the Catholics evidently forget that the exclusion of religion from the State schools is a concession to them ; Protestants denying themselves what they would like, for the purpose of not offending the Catholics. For there is hardly a doubt that if all the community were protestants, religion would be taught in the schools, and no one would object to it. Besides, if, as they say they depend chiefly upon the working classes to govern the elections, how can they possibly hope to succeed while they are the cause of de* feating the present Ministry, and so be the means of retaining the present restrictions of the vote of their chief supporters (the Irish working classes.) The Liberal party do not intend to maintain that this is purely a Conservative move*— though some say so—to break up the Liberal party, but they do thinV the Conservatives would be pleased if a split could be obtained, and though not advocating the means, would readily ao* cept the result, trusting to after events and the Council to defeat the Catholics. However, the agitation has been so strongly opposed by counter demonstra* tions of al! shades of public opinion, by the clergy, by the Press, and a general rising in arms, as it were, against it, that the movement threatens to die out.- Of its danger to the Liberal cause, if persisted in, their can be no doubt, because ! the Liberals have the great body of the working classes, and it is stated that one half of them are Catholics, whether correct or not I cannot say. Many Catholics maintain their intention to vote as they think best, publish their opinions in the press, urging their fellow. religionists to do the same, and and not throw over the

present popular G .vernment and reform for a concession they will never obtain from the Conservatives. They say : Let's ?efc reform first ; support Mr. Berry ; get our political rights, and then try for other things afterwards, There have been a few contested seats during the last two sessions, the most notable of which were ''West Melbourne" and "West Bourke." The West Melbourne was won twice by Sir Brjan O'Loughlin against Mr Francis. Tbe latter gentleman declared that he had been ' galvanised into activity ' by the civil service dismissals. This was acknowledged to be a great stronghold oi Conseryatism, and the Liberals were accordingly jubilant, the Conservatives charging them with all manner of unfair means to gain the victory, and hare not forgotten their defeat yet. On the other hand, Wesfc Bourke was wop by Mr Deakins (Liberal) as against Mr Harper I (Conservative). But a hitch occurred, the ballot papers at one polling booth ran j short before the time for closing the poll. \ It is stated that not more than twelve or fourteen electors presented themselves during the interval, bat could not be famished with the required ballot papers. Under these circumstances the Conservatives held it to be an illegal election. Mr Deakins contended that it was a perfectly legal one, and was upheld by the Attorney-General. However, to settle all disputes, Mr Deakins, in a highly honourable, if Quixotic manner, resigned, and stood tbe election again. This time he was defeated by fourteen votes. To the credit of the Liberals, be it said, they did not accuse the Conservatives with every kind of underhand means to gain the victory, but simply ascribed their defeat to the Catholic vote. I have now brought my outline down to the commencement of tbe present session. I have endeavoured to assist you to comprehend the position of parties at {.resent. They miy be summarised thus: The Conservative party strongly in favour of maintaining the restrictions on manhood suffrage, and generally sapporting free trade. Tbe Liberals striving for tbe principle of unrestricted manhood stiff age, and tbe power of the purse for the Assembly, and- generally supporting protection. Some portion of the Liberal party differ as to the means to obtain their principle, and there apparently being no concessions of opinion among the Conservatives as to what reform they would advocate, only being unanimous to oppose any scheme based on manhood suffrage. Then we have the Catholics catching at the fancied opportunity to get concession ia their favour, hoping amidst the general conflict to get some ' side to support them. Jn my next I purpose dealing with the | present session and the new Eeforta Bill, j and its chances of success, j (To be continued.) j