The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1899. THE POLITICAL HOROSCOPE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 295, 13 December 1899, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1899. THE POLITICAL HOROSCOPE.

For tha cause that lacks assistance, For the -wrong that need. rosi_ta_co, For the faroro in tie dlatanes, And the good that \re can do.

Several of our Southern contemporaries are amusing themselves and their readers by casting' political horoscopes based on the result of the recent elections. The Opposition is so nearly wiped out that one venturesome.scribe proceeded to apply some finishing; touches by formulating a programme including the resignation of. Captain Russell and the. formation of two new parties. This Captain Russell promptly; demolished. The Leader of the late Opposition has not relinquished either his seat or his hopes; indeed, he assures us that recent reverses have acted upon him like new wine. He is full of political fervour and ready for the fray. Nevertheless, it is true, whether the member for Hawke's Bay chooses to recognise it or not.'that the ,old Opposition, of which Captain Russell' himself is a notable type, as well as the most distinguished survivor, is "as dead as Queen Anne" in the country. It has been killed even in those parts of the colony where its influence was .once paramormt. Surely Captain Russell cannot consider the sweeping Government vote throughout Canterbury, the defeat of Mr Hunter for Waipawa and of Mr Buchanan for Wairarapa, and the election returns for other rural districts of the colony without realising this. It is, the one truth plainly taught by the general election, so that- "he who runs may read." The great need of the Opposition is a leader who can do for New Zealand Conservatism what Disraeli did for the Tory Party in Great Britain —bring it abreast of the times and in sympathy with public opinion and popular aspirations.

The largeness of the majority with which the Premier will meet Parliament possesses in it certain elements of danger. That it-does not absolutely ensure continuance in office the fate of the Turner Ministry in Victoria demonstrated. The no-confidence motion before which thoy fell was tabled by an erstwhile supporter, Mr McLean, and- carried through the defection of the votes of twenty Liberal members from the Ministerial side. The straight - out Opposition contributed thirty more, making, with pairs, a vote of 50 to 39 against Ministers. The present Victorian Parliament expires by effluxion of time in October next, and Sir George Turner considered that he was entitled to an appeal to the country. Lord Brassey, however, declined to grant this, being partly influenced, no doubt, by the consideration that the overthrow of the Ministry was mainly based on personal grounds, and there was no true issue to submit to the country. This fact is important as bearing upon, the relations of a party to its leaders everywhere. The Rosebery Government met Parliament with a good majority, which melted away ■ through internal dissensions. It must always be recognised that there is no place for autocracy within the four corners of a true democracy., and that a Cabinet, must pursue a, policy which commands the confidence of the rank and file of its party. The Melbourne "Age," which is the leading org-an of Liberalism in Victoria, referring, to this subject, says:—"Sir George Turner complains that his defeat comes from the men who were sent into the House as his-supporters.' That is true. -But there is some consolation iv the contention that in tranter ring their allegiance to Mr McLean and Mr Hig-g-ins they are in no wise sacrificing

Liberal leaders for Conservative ones; and it would not be safe at any time to the Liberal cause that the doctrine of personal allegiance should be strained too far. . . • While we

have frequently pointed to the manifest failing that had fallen on the energies of the Turner Government, yet as it evinced no dereliction from principle'we were unwilling to see it sacrificed for its small sins of omission. Nevertheless Aye cannot believe that in Mr McLean's hands the great cause of Liberalism will have any more to fear than it had in Sir George Turner's, while it may derive the impetus that comes from new men with new methods and an unexhausted stock of energy."'

All this is germane to the present political situation in New Zealand. There arc in the Government majority two sections — those whose Liberal

principles are of a conservative character, and those who incline towards extreme Radicalism and speculative legislation. A Southern contemporary the other day predicted that the Premier will now make a special effort to establish himself in the estimation of the classes who have hitherto formed the backbone of the Opposition. In other words, that he will moderate the pace with respect to statutes which have a disturbing influence on industries and commerce. He may well do this without any sacrifice of principle, because. New Zealand has gone ahead at a rather startling rate in the inauguration of semi-socialistic movements.The defeat of the Left Wing party is also an indication that the country desires solid Liberalism rather than ' ill-balanced Radicalism. But those who anticipate that Mr Seddon after the recent clear pronouncement of the country against the Opposition is going to throw himself into the arms of the routed party, must attribute to \he Liberal leader a verdancy for which we can find no warranty from a study of his past political career.

What is most to be desired is that the Premier shall fumish/lumself with good capable colleagues, possessing individuality of character, who will relieve him of some of the undue strain of work which has fallen upon his shoulders during the past three years, and who will strengthen him both with his party and the country. Backed by able assistants, men of broad Liberal views and capacity, the Premier might inaugurate such a policy of progress, aiming at the development of the resources of the country and a steady improvement in its industrial conditions, as will not only hold his own party together, but make still further gains from the other side.