Responsible government indeed! Why, the very words now stink in the nostrils
of every respectable, honest man. We
here confess candidly that we could almost make up our minds to form one of a
mob to drive the present miserable horde of so-called representatives of the
people from the precincts of the people’s chamber which they so wantonly
pollute.[2]
Into
this cesspit of intrigue and duplicity, Douglas
fearlessly waded, and was soon hopelessly mired. His independent streak manifested itself
through him verbally savaging the opposition, criticism then used by the
government to discredit and embarrass them.
Douglas was especially scornful of Thomas Fitzgerald, a leading member
of the opposition, who Douglas accused of
being unfit to hold high office, responsible for “many of the evils connected
with the Land Act,” and not to be trusted with the finances of the
colony.[3]
It is
difficult to know what Douglas was trying to achieve, for Fitzgerald was poised
to become premier and, like Douglas , aligned
with the liberal side of politics.
Moreover, despite desperately needing the income a ministerial position
would have provided, Douglas , through these
remarks, had seemingly ruled himself out of any potential ministerial
positions.[4] One can only assume that this was Douglas speaking from the heart without fear or
favour. He genuinely believed that
Fitzgerald was unsuited for the position of premier and was prepared to put the
interests of the colony ahead of those of the liberal group. Douglas was a politician who consistently
attempted to put Queensland
This
episode stamped Douglas as a politician unique
among his peers, one whose morality and concern for the public good overrode
all else. However, in the real world of
politics, inhabited by men possessed of fragile, overblown egos and venal
ambition, people who frequently lusted after power, this principled stand was a
recipe calculated to make enemies and damage the opposition. As Douglas
later recalled, “he made many political enemies, although no personal ones, by
invariably fighting in the liberal ranks.”[6]
However,
being a maverick went down well with the electorate, who recognised his honesty
and determination to do what was best for the colony rather than for
himself. Nevertheless, the government
made political capital out of Douglas ’s
comments by gleefully supporting his observation that the opposition were unfit
for office.[7] However, Douglas
believed he had done his duty by his electorate and the parliament in publicly
raising his concerns.[8]
[1] Bernays, p. 49
[2] Quoted in Bernays, pp. 49-50
[3] Brisbane 19
November 1868 , p. 2; Mr Douglas.
“Address in Reply to Opening Speech.”
Queensland Parliamentary Debates,
vol 8, 1869, pp. 26-27
[4] Ibid., p. 26
[5] Browne (1927), p. 73
[6] “Hon John Douglas C.M.G.” Torres Strait Daily Pilot and New Guinea 19 December
1903
[7] Mr Forbes. “Address in Reply
to Opening Speech.” Queensland Parliamentary Debates, vol 8, 1869, p. 29; The Colonial
Secretary. “Address in Reply to Opening
Speech.” Queensland Parliamentary Debates, vol 8, 1869, p. 46. Douglas had
talked openly about the antagonism between Fitzgerald and Macalister. (Mr Douglas.
“Address in Reply to Opening Speech.”
Queensland Parliamentary Debates,
vol 8, 1869, p. 26; The Colonial Secretary.
“Address in Reply to Opening Speech.”
Queensland Parliamentary Debates,
vol 8, 1869, p. 46)
[8] The Postmaster-General.
“Ministerial Statement.” Queensland Parliamentary Debates, vol 8,
1869, p. 80
