David Syme the Father of Protection in Australia
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David Syme The Father of Protection In Australia By Ambrose Pratt With Introduction By The Hon. Alfred Deakin Illustrated Ward Lock & Co. Ltd. London: Warwick House, Salisbury Square, E.C. Melbourne: Windsor House, MacKillop Street 1908 Digital edition prepared by Gary Edwards in Australia 11th September, 2006. David Syme Introduction By The Hon. Alfred Deakin When a final study of the career of David Syme appears, it must form part of the most memorable chapters in the history of the colony of Victoria and of the making of the Australian Commonwealth. These cannot be written until the lapse of time shall have furnished a sufficient perspective, an array of documents now unpublished, and also allowed the light of subsequent events to rest upon the work done by him during his long and fruitful life. No complete estimate, either of the man or his methods, being possible at present, the book to which these few paragraphs serve as an introduction makes no such pretence. Yet it possesses an immediate interest as well as the enduring value of original materials which cannot be superseded. A biography of this character, published today, comes opportunely while the facts which it chronicles are more in men's minds than they are likely to be years hence, when the freshness of impressions still current will have died away. For many years [begin page vi] past, so far as the public knew, Mr. Syme was The Age and The Age was Mr. Syme. Most Australians had no other knowledge of his life. To him the paper owed everything; its survival, character and policy. It was a power because he was a power; or, in current phrase, a personality. The story of the newspaper occupies by far the larger portion of this book, and properly, since to its issues we must look for the larger portion of his thought, of his labour and indeed of himself. Even an outline portrait of Mr. Syme cannot be attempted without adding an impressionist estimate of the influence of his journal; nor will it ever be possible to consider its achievements apart from the man to whom they were due. Its triumphs and shortcomings, whether arising from his direct action or endorsement of the actions of others, are his and his only. It is therefore perfectly natural and appropriate that after the first three chapters of reminiscence the life of the individual man should seem to be absorbed in that of his paper. Its thin veil of impersonality imposed upon no one and concealed nothing of him that the future has a right to know. Unfortunately for myself, the invitation to add some personal reminiscences of Mr. Syme comes at a moment when even that is all but impossible. Without leisure to refer to diaries or documents of any kind for the refreshment of a jaded memory, it would be fruitless to attempt to give more than [begin page vii] a few cursory and hasty glimpses of him as I saw him when controlling his paper during the years 1878 to1883, or at intervals afterwards down to his last days. How slight and fragmentary these recollections are is admitted without demur - too fleeting in my own opinion to be worthy of record. They merely offer a few very incomplete impressions. Added together they scarcely make a sketch. At best like casual snapshots, frank, though blurred, they may serve to recall to those who know something of his characteristics, the remarkable citizen of the Commonwealth "in his habit as he lived" while he wrought, hammer on anvil, at the building of this great State within the Empire. The first three chapters of this book are to a large extent autobiographical, and these it has been possible for me to read. A glance at the remainder shows that they take a far wider range, dealing with the principal developments of the policy unfolded and enforced by The Age in circumstances which are certain to provoke prolonged examination. But the recollections of any of us who were acquainted with Mr. Syme, unless recorded now, will not be recoverable. Having been one of his friends for nearly thirty years, it is my obligation to add at once my little store of knowledge, such as it is, and so far as I can jot it down. When introduced to Mr. Syme shortly after I was called to the Bar, he was at the height of his [begin page viii] fame, though not of his prosperity. The Age office, at that time in Elizabeth Street, was an old building of considerable size, inconveniently arranged and of dingy exterior. It was, however, already the mainspring of Victorian politics. Then as always Mr. Syme must have impressed any observant eye. A splendid physique, upright carriage, resolute step, and regular features firmly set, expressed a mind and character of unmistakable force and unusual penetration. Save for the slowly- increasing physical weakness manifested during the last five or six years he remained without notable change in appearance or manner until he died. The hair became greyer, the pace slower, the smile kindlier, and the manner easier, but the transition proceeded quite imperceptibly. His powerful frame, in spite of his ruthless use of all its resources, remained outwardly unimpaired, except by a slight stoop. In brief, beyond the effects of pressure relaxed and strength lessened, there was no special alteration of mood or mind. His ideas, aims and opinions were not materially modified. Though his wealth and opportunities for leisure were multiplied, neither of these was noticeably enjoyed by him in the ordinary sense of that word. Perhaps he had been too long engaged in a fierce struggle for existence to relax into lighter recreation. At all events he valued his riches only for the power and independence they betokened, remaining as simple in taste, habit, dress and demeanour as he [begin page ix] was before his office expanded to its present dimensions in Collins Street. It was there that, gradually becoming a regular contributor to The Age and the Leader, I was frequently in his company. Never holding an appointment on either staff or receiving a salary, my time was my own. As he lived for some years in South Yarra near my home, we sometimes walked out together and I visited him occasionally. At intervals I spent a few days at his country place - Macedon - since that summer resort was situated in the constituency represented by me early in 1879 and from 1880 onwards. Our business relations subsisted until 1883, when my connexion with the paper ceased, owing to the acceptance of other responsibilities. During five years of journalism I probably saw as much of Mr. Syme in his office as anyone, except Mr. George Syme, his brother, or Mr. Windsor, who until 1900 was the Editor of The Age, and much more elsewhere than those not of his family. The strongest tie between us was supplied by our common enjoyment of the same books and interest in the same questions. Not that we shared all general likings. He was a slow, selective, reasoning student of scientific, sociological, economic, and political literature; of the monthly and quarterly magazines, of voyages, travels and explorations; and to a more limited extent a reader of biographies, and treatises upon current controversial issues, in most of which he took an active interest. He [begin page x] had dipped into metaphysics only to discard the principal systems. Beyond this wide area and its definite boundaries he did not go, or care to go. Within it he was always willing to give or take up a challenge to discuss. He kept a thorough grasp of whatever knowledge appealed to his understanding and had it always ready for use. When he gave himself the rein, usually in dialogue, he spoke consecutively, forcefully and clearly, arguing at times with vehemence and energy, though as a rule briefly. A more interesting talker, sober-minded but fearless, or a more logical disputant, it would have been difficult to find. There was not the slightest arrogance in his intellectual altitude, though he was little tolerant of principles or persons that did not harmonize with his own views. He was sceptical both from choice and inborn caution. Despite his varying moods he was at all times prepared to meet those who would debate abstract questions on a footing of absolute equality, listening with eager attention to new facts or new interpretations. In most circumstances his manner discovered a modest diffidence, even when his fundamental doctrines were assailed. He was always most gracious and considerate to the very young man, whose enthusiasms he criticized with a generous simplicity conveying no hint of the legitimate authority to which his age, ability and experience fully entitled him. His good nature was, I fear not infrequently abused; but never at any time [begin page xi] or under any provocation did he become in the least ruffled by trespasses of this kind. David Syme has often been described as cold stern, severe, and choleric; though these epithets were much more in vogue during the early years of The Age, when nothing but indomitable resolution stood between him and the wreck of his hopes. There was some justification for general impressions of this order, since his was always the reserved demeanour of a self-centred man. A glance at the sad story of his childhood and youth discloses the circumstances in which he put on an armour worn for the rest of his life. Nor was the world kind to him until after he had reached middle life. Robbed and deserted by his mate when apparently' dying in the old diggings days (whose traditions of this kind relate almost wholly to chivalrous sacrifices), he was not exceptionally fortunate in anything except his marriage, till once and for all his nature had taken its ply.