The Sum TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1914. MR ISITT'S METHODS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 255, 1 December 1914, Page 6

The Sum TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1914. MR ISITT'S METHODS.

Mr Isitt's speech at Rugby Street last night was more in the nature of a sermon than a political address, and even his best friends must feel a little disconcerted at the curious admixture of religion and politics he served up. According to Mr Isitt, the Lord is on the side of the Liberals and the Reformers typify all that is anti-Christian. They stand for greed and human selfishness, whereas Liberalism represents the spirit of Christianity and self-sacrifice. It is an amazing doctrine to enunciate from the public platform, and if pursued is likely to introduce unde-. sirable elements into the discussion ■■ of political questions. The very idea that the Ward Party, the brewing interests associated with it,' and the Red Feds, who are hanging to its tail, in any way embody the spirit of Christianity, ; is such a travesty of the truth that people will ask themselves, what manner of is the politician wha suggests in all seriousness that they should believe it f No 9 political party has a monopoly of all the virtues, least of alf the Ward Party. Politicians, the wide world over, are very much alike. of them are honest, conscientious, and capable, but this class is not numerous. ' There is a larger class that is honest, 1 conscientious, and incapable. These two groups represent the best men in publie life. The rest are mainly untrustworthy opportunists who barter their principles for votes and political power. The Liberal Party has its full share of them, and to expect these men to be; solely guided by Christian ethics, or to suggest that they are, is absurd and nonsensical to the last degree. It would be far better for Mr,, Isitt to discuss polities from a purely secular standpoint, and leave religion out of the argument. We can quite imagine that lie finds it difficult to do so. For years he has been advocating prohibition and stressing the religious side of the no-license movement. He has denounced publicans and the liquor trade generally in language-of unmeasured violence; and the habit has become second nature. Now he has evidently succumbed to the temptation to employ precisely the same methods against Ms political opponents. But it will not do. Many people may be strongly prejudiced against the Massey Government and the Reform Party. They may dislike individual members of both, but few really believe Mr Isitt's accusations of slander, his implications of conspiracy with the Huntly mine owners, or his charges of deliberate deceit on financial matters. Mr Isitt would he more convincing if he stuck to facts and relied less on exaggeration and intemperate denunciation.