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_ Zi SEDITIOUS. ADDRESS. -
' BY Er.KCTRib Ttt.BGr.Anr. -
BY OCR SXUCCIAL UEPORTCft. I
Ballarat, Ifith June.
About 4000 persons wore preseut in the
Alfred Hall to-night' on the occasion of a
meeting called to protest against the treason
able manifesto signed by the five members of
tlie Legislative Assembly. Mr. John Noble
Wilson, mayor of the city, took the chair, but
having' to leave on private business his place
was occupied by Mr. W.CollardSmith. The pro
ceedings were ojiened by the singing of the
National Anthetn. Mr. Smith rend -apologies
from Mr. H. Cuthbertand Air. Graham Berry,
and also tbo following letter from Mr. Patter
son, M.L.A.r —
"Sir,— I have to return yon my warmest
thanks for the invitation you have been kind
enough to address me to attend your demonstra
tion at the Alfred Ball on Friday evening : but,
alter careful reflection, 1 feel that i shall serve
the caoso better by not intruding on your plat
form, and mainly for two reasons — first, because
I do pot consider that I ought to appear in my
political character to discuss a matter that in
my opinion should be considered ns fur apart as
possible from politics ; and secondly, because I
am satisfied the question will not gain, but rather
suffer, if any portion of the public should unfor
tunately bo led to believe that party considera
tions cuter in the smallest degree into the motives
of those who are bringing it forward. I intra
been accused in tho Houso of being actuated by
party feelings, and my reply was that the fivo
mombers. whoso conduct has led to the agitation
comprised Conservatives as well as Liberals, ami
at least one Protestant with four Catholics.
They Sat three on my side of tho Honno nnd two
on tho other ; nnd it is obvious therefore that
I had no party interest to servo in taking
the action I did. The neutral attitude 1 took up
upon that occasion 1 wish to preserve to the last.
Tlie question is a national one. It appeals to the
people as members of tho great British
empire, and not ns politicians at all ; and to the
spontaneous impulse of the people I think it
oujrkt to be loft, the intervention of politicians
doing more barm than good. I trust that you
will agree with me, ami at the same time accept
my assurance that I am deeply gratified to fiud
the chord I struck in the House hag found a
response, not only among the loyal citizens of
Ballarat, but, us 1 believe, throughout tbe entire
country. — Believe me, yours truly, J. B.
Patterson. Albert Beyer, Esq. Kith June,
16S2."
Mr. W. T. C. Kelly moved the first resolu
tion : —
That this meeting of the residents of Ballarat pro
tests a&ainst the statement contained in the address
recently forwarded to the Mayor of Dublin, purport
ing to be an address from the Irish aud their descen
dants in Victoria to the Irish people.
He regretted the occasion had arisen in a
country where pec pi o of &U nations were
united in trying to build up a nation, that a
small section, bringing their prejudices from ,
the old country, should try to stir
up dissensions. If the Irish persisted
iu raising up dissension they would be treated
as in California the -Chinese were treated. If
they only wanted aell-governmenfc, as was
alleged, why did 'they ask for tho complete
freedom of Ireland, and say that although the
policy of England might change, there would
be no change until the Irish achieved inde
pendence ? Tue words meant that all who
sympathised with tho document sympa
thised with the atrocities which liad been
committed, Including the terrible .murder
of Lord Cavendish, the messenger of
per.co to Ireland. It was stated in the mani
festo that the people of Ballarat sjTnpa-
Mused with it, but ho would show that Bal-
Jurat had no such sympathy. (Cheors.) He
urged the people of Ireland wanted nothing
but complete separation, and alluding to tbe
professednoss of loyalty on the part of the
signatories, contended it was an insult to the
committee. (Cheers.)
The Rev. Mr. Walker seconded the resolu
tion, and said it was impossible for ministers
to refrain from expressing their loyalty to the
best Queen who ever sat on tbe throne.
A wave of feeling was passing over
tbe colony which in strength and in
tensity be bad never seen tho like.
(Cheers.) Gladstone had tried his best to
sweep away irregularities and do justice, aud
was it au outrage that, in Parliament espe
cially, there should occur an esniuple tliat
could only be pernicious and demoralising to
the country ? It was their duty to send a wave
of feeling through the country, so as to prevent
auy repetition of such au outrage in tbe
future. (Cheers.)
Air. John James, M.L.A., supported the reso
lution, and contended tliat the four members
present on the platform had done their
duty in Parliament nobly and well.
(Cheer3.) The minority, much io their
disgust, could not . command the majority.
What tho Parliamput could do was— (A
Voice : Kick them out)— pass o vote of cen
sure upon them. (Cheers.) Tho speaker con
tended that the question of loyalty would not
have been raised at all but for the humiliating
document in which the five members of the
House had dared to question tho rule of tbe
Queen under tho title 44 foreign despotism,"
He urged that it was necessary to crush out
the first symptoms of disloyalty in this
country. (Cheers.)
The motion was carried with loud cheera.
Mr. James Russell moved the second re
solution : —
This meeting: declares that the present Parliament
of Victoria, in not asiing the motion brought forward
by Mr. Patterson, has been' srnilty of a dereliction of
duty, aud does not possess tho confidence of tho
people of Rall&rat.
Had the Government done its duty there
would not have been need of the meeting.
The colony had been degraded by the action
of the Government. Any person who lived
under British rule should expatriate himself if
ho did not rejoice iu tlie loyal feelings Ins fc-1-
: lowcolonsista rejoiced in. He contended Parlia
ment bad not done its duty, nnd it was the
right of the meeting to show their loyalty, and
do their duty, bypassing the resolution he pro
posed. (Cheers were here given for the Queen,
and groans for the Government.)
The Rev. Mr." Clark neconded the motion.
He hoped when tlie next election came round
Mr. Longmore would bo sent into political ob
scurity, .and that the people would show that
the Queen should not be insulted and treason
made manifest. It was in tlio hands of tbe
people to do this.; let them determine to
stamp out such disgraceful conduct. He
trusted the time would soon come when Par
liament would say to such treasonable people
as the signatories to the manifesto, 4f you
don't go out, wo will kick you out."
Mr. M4Coll, M.L.A., supported the resolu
tion, which was carried.
Mr. R. T. Vclo moved'the third resolution.
That tins meeting expresses its best thanks to tho
members of the Legislative Assembly who sopiiorted
Mr. Patterson's motion.
He complimented Mr. Patterson on the plain
ness of his language. Ho contended the mean
ing of the signatories and those who supported
them was nothing less than tho disinteg- '
ration of the empire. He alleged that
when the election came none of the
men who supported Mr. Patersou would
lose their peats, but lie hoped that next
week the Ministry who had dragged the
colony through the mire would be relegated
to the obscurity from whence they came.
(Loud cheers.)
The Rev. E. Turner seconded the resolution,
_ Mr. H. Hell, M.L.A., supported tbe resolu
tion. In the coarse of his speech he stated
he knew for a fact four out of the five mem
bers who signed the manifesto had never read
the doenment. The statement was received
with groans, anu cries of " Oil," and "Sit down,"
the chairman having to interfere to oliow Mr.
Bell to finish his speech. 'Mr. Bell. concluded
by asserting that the members in tbe Assembly
now present' on tho platform had done their
duty in Parliament.
Tbe resolution was carried with acclamation.
Mr. Bradsbaw moved the fourth resolution
amidst loud cheering.
Tliat a copy of tbtf fcegoiug resolafions be for-
warded to the Governor for transmission to tbe Secre
tary of State for the Colonies for presentation to tbe
iuoen.
Mr. Fincham, M.LA., seconded the motion,
which was carried with cheers.
After a vote of thanks to the chairman and
cheers for the Queen, tho meeting, which hod '
been extremely enthusiastic, closed by singing
the National Anthem.
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