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Updated Sunday 15 May, 2011 12:18 PM |
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This Day in Alternate History Blog
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An
Obituary for President Edward “Ned” Kelly From
Outlaw to President by David Atwell Introduction There have been very few in life who achieved so much in such a short time. One of these few was President Edward “Ned” Kelly of the Victorian Republic. Born a lowly man, by the standards of the time, he was forced by greedy Squatters into rebellion not long after coming into manhood. From there he began to lead a small group of freedom loving men in a rebellion against the unjust British authority of the time. After several successful raids, his fame and popularity soon spread. Finally, as far as the British were concerned, Ned Kelly was captured during a desperate action against their forces in northern Victoria. But, for Ned Kelly, life soon took a different turn. Having caught the imagination and hearts of the Victorian People, the British soon discovered that, wherever they tried to take him to Court, the Jury time and again acquitted him of all charges. And then Ned Kelly ran for political office in the Colonial Government of Victoria. Early Days Edward “Ned” John Kelly was born in
1954 to an Irish family who had recently immigrated to Australia. At the time of
his humble birth, there was no indication that he would become a great man. His
family lacked social stature and were obscure as much as the Selector farm upon
which they dwelt. The early life of the President was an uneventful one until,
at the age of sixteen, he was arrested and found guilty of horse theft. Whilst
in gaol, in Melbourne, Ned Kelly was soon introduced to a very different life
from his country origins. Not only were there various technologies seen for the
first time, but ideas had taken root in his mind, which would see this country
young lad turn into the man of future destiny. Ned Kelly, however, was to spend three
years of his life in gaol for a crime he had always claimed he had never done.
Recent historical investigations have, in fact, shown that Ned Kelly was not at
the location of the said crime, clearly demonstrating the President’s
innocence. Having said that, his protestations at the time were ignored. Yet, he
never forgot the injustice done to him and others. Ned would henceforth strive
to ensure that this would never happen again. Within a year of his release Ned Kelly
had returned to the family farm and turned it into a successful small business
as a horse stud. He had a number of horses, which were considered to be of fine
quality, and had sold several to Melbourne persons of various backgrounds. Alas,
Ned’s success was soon to become a burden. The local Squatters, who were a
form of self proclaimed aristocracy, soon plotted against Ned, claiming that he
had stolen his horses from several of them. In doing so, they sent the police
out to arrest him. Word, however, had soon gotten to the Kelly farm before the
arrival of the police and Ned, along with a brother and two friends, fled to the
bush seeking safety. Unfortunately, more so for the police than Ned and his companions, the police continued after them and slowly tracked them down. Finally, a gun battle took place, which saw three of the four police officers killed, whilst the remaining police officer was injured. Ned saw to his wounds, took him to a neighbouring Selector farm, and only left him when it was clear that the injured officer would survive thanks to the efforts of the farmer and his wife. Rebel At this point in time, Ned began his
Rebellion against the corrupt police force, colonial authorities, and above all
the Squatters. The “Kelly Gang”, as they would become immortalised, soon
began a campaign against the weakest link of Colonial and Squatter power - the
banks. Accordingly, the Kelly Gang began robbing banks in true style and
fashion. Always polite with staff and customers, and never talking the money of
customers only the bank’s , the Kelly Gang nevertheless quickly became public
enemy number one in Victoria. At first, most members of the population
were against these bank robber outlaws and demanded something was done about
them. Of course, most people were also ignorant of the circumstances involved.
This, however, was to change as two important things would take place. Even
though the government told their side of the story, a different story soon
spread throughout the community through word of mouth. So, within six months of
the first bank robbed by the Kelly Gang, it became common knowledge that the
members of the Kelly Gang were always polite and had not shot anyone, other than
the four original corrupt policemen, which in turn had sparked off the
Rebellion. Furthermore, it also became commonly known, that people in dire need
were often given a hardy donation by the Kelly Gang in a fashion similar to
Robin Hood. Then the other circumstance happened. In
early 1880, Ned Kelly released the Jerilderie
Proclamation, which declared war against the Victorian Colonial Government.
Alas for Ned his open Rebellion, which caught the imagination of many Victorians
who saw a chance to rid their “country” of a corrupt and evil authority, did
not last for long. In June 1880, in their first major attack against colonial
forces, the Kelly Gang, now numbering 47 troopers, were thoroughly defeated at
Glenrowen. Most of the Kelly Gang were killed. Ned Kelly, however, survived
albeit seriously wounded. And all thanks to an alert, to the Colonial Forces,
from a school teacher. Luckily for Ned, the Colonial government
of the time, had ordered that it wanted him alive so they could have a very
public trial followed by a very public hanging. In doing so, the government
wanted to send a clear message to the Victorian population that it would
tolerate no threat to its existence. It was, however, a colossal mistake in two
circumstances. Because the government did not want it known that Ned Kelly was a
real threat as a leader of a dangerous
rebellion, it decided to charge him as an outlaw and bank robber. This would
also ensure a public trial were a jury, made up of members of the public, would
try Ned for his crimes. Unfortunately for the government, Ned’s first trial in Ballarat, scene of the Eureka Stockade Rebellion, turned into a farce. The government soon discovered that it could not get an impartial jury as everyone proclaimed Ned innocent even before legal proceedings could begin. The government then moved the trial to Melbourne in the hope it could begin the trail. This eventually did occur. But once again Ned Kelly’s fame had preceded him. Although the trial went ahead, and even reached a verdict, the jury found Ned not guilty on all counts. Stunned, the government nonetheless had to finally release him. Politician At this point, the now self-called
Edward Kelly, did not know what to do. Enjoying great public support, more so
than anyone else in Victoria, several politicians, hoping that some of the
popularity would shine on them too, were soon seen with Edward whenever they
could. Although most of these politicians were only in it for themselves, Peter
Lalor of Eureka Stockade fame, had also introduced himself to Edward and
befriended him. It would be this friendship which would begin Edward’s further
rise to fame. Thus, not long after Edward was a free
man, Lalor had convinced him to run for the Victorian Colonial Parliament. At
first Edward scoffed at the idea. In fact Edward claimed that Lalor was mad for
even suggesting the idea. “Join the whore of Babylon?” Edward is known to
have asked. Lalor’s memorable reply was “It’s more about stealing her bed
and tossing her out into the street naked.” Edward was elected to Parliament,
with an overwhelming majority, on 11th November 1881. Because of Edward’s great popularity,
the members of Parliament were careful in how they treated him. Nonetheless,
Edward, showing great skills at oratory, combined with a practical common sense
of logic, tutored by Lalor, was soon a force to be reckoned with in Parliament.
And anyone who was condescending towards Edward was soon given a quick lesson in
how not to treat him. Within three years, Edward had gathered around him a solid
core of supporters. Many saw him as a future Premier. And it came to pass and this was, indeed, soon to be Victoria’s blessing. Having had many candidates win their seats, who were endorsed by Edward, a new Kelly Gang came to the fore. But instead of using guns to fight their battles, this new Gang used their voices. By 1888, the Kelly Gang formed the last Colonial Victorian government. Three years later, Victoria would become a republic. And in doing so Edward Kelly would become its first President. President The reasons why Victoria became a
republic are somewhat obscure to most people. Nevertheless, if it was not for
Edward Kelly as Premier at the time, a lessor man would have faulted. In the
court case Toy vs Musgrove, the
British government in Westminster stepped in and overturned a Victorian law
about immigration. Although this was not a law which Edward had introduced, nor
was he overly fond of the law in question, it was still seen as an unjust and
unlawful act on behalf of Britain. This was far too much for Edward. He
immediately, after the British Governor had threatened him with dismissal if he,
Edward, continued to protest the British government’s decision, went into
Parliament proclaiming the Victorian Republic on 1st July 1891. It goes without saying that this stunned
many of the politicians present, especially in the Legislative Council. But
Edward had the numbers in the Legislative Assembly to push the motion through
and immediately presented it to the Council. Much debate took place in the
Council and they eventually, the following day, rejected the Republican
Proclamation. This caused Edward to go into a fury. Within a handful of minutes
after the Council’s decision, several members of the Kelly Government, led by
Edward, arrived in the Council Chambers and removed Edward’s opponents
regardless of their protests. Thereafter the remaining Council members had
another vote. And this time the Proclamation was passed unanimously. Victoria
had commenced its infancy as a free and sovereign nation unto itself. This single moment was probably Edward
Kelly’s greatest achievement. He had, after nearly 20 years of struggle,
finally ensured justice and freedom, not only for himself, but for every
Victorian. Edward’s famous immortalised quote, Such is life, was made to newspaper reporters, the day after the
Proclamation was announced publicly, in order to justify why he took on the
momentous decision.
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