The admission of lawyers into the Local Court would give
rise to endless feuds, where valuable interests were
concerned, and so much time would be lost in useless
litigation. As he had no wish through any personal
obligation to see the lawyers in the Local Court,
and as he considered that it was for the advantage of
the miners that they should not be admitted, he opposed
their entrance.
The third matter concerned those present. What did they
come to Australia for? Why, to improve their prospects
in reality, though on shipboard they might say it was to
get rid of the 'governor,' or to get clear of an ugly wife,
and now that you are here are you to allow the Ballaarat
lawyers to fleece you of your hard earnings? Not being
fond of yabber-yabber he would simply ask: are you fairly
represented by us? (Yes, yes.) If so then support us,
and if we do not represent you we will resign. Don't say
yes if you don't mean it, for I do not like yabber-yabber.
I beg to assert, that the above report is correct, as far as it goes. Some
five hundred diggers were present. Now for the perversion from the reporter
of 'The Argus', Melbourne, Tuesday, October 2.
"Carboni Raffaello, a foreigner [a foreign anarchist, if you please,
Mr. Editor], then spoke in his usual style [that is, sedition, revolution,
and rebellion, that's it], the principal (sic) points of his remarks being,
that while incarcerated in the Melbourne gaol [was it for common felony,
or high treason?] he was not supplied with snuff, though he had entreated
his learned counsel, Mr. J. H. Dunne, for sixpenny worth. He [Please,
Raffaello or Dunne? fine pair together] did not consider himself under
any obligation to the lawyers: he [but who? Dunne or Raffaello?] was not fond
of yabber-yabber."
Thus an honest man is brayed at by asses in this colony! The fun is odious
and ridiculous enough.
When such reporters of the British press prostitute British ink, the only ink
that dares to register black on white the name, word and deed of any tyrant
through the whole face of the earth, and for the sake of a pair of
Yankee boots, lower themselves to the level of a scribbler, thus affording
to be audacious because anonymous, the British press in the southern hemisphere
will be brought to shame, and Victoria cannot possibly derive any benefit
from it.
Let the above observation stand good, I proceed with my work.
'The Age' was then just budding, and was considered, on the diggings the organ
of the new chum Governor. 'The Age' soon mustered a Roman courage in the cause
of the diggers, and jumped the claims both of The Herald and 'The Argus';
and though the 'own correspondent,' under the head of Ballaarat, be such a dry,
soapy concern that will neither blubber nor blather, yet 'The Age' remained
the diggers' paper.
