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Bush Advocate, Volume XXIII, Issue 281, 6 December 1911, Page 4

it is the eve of the great battle. The Ward Government is on its trial, and the people, are t)uy jury. Upon their verdict will depend groat issues. For twenty years' the Liberals have held office, and they nitist be judged upon their works. Ever since John Ballanee rose to power in 1890 the political affairs of the Dominion have been carried on in the interests of the people, and not in the interests of a class'. Slowly hut steadily, ever moving onward, a .policy 'has been put into practice which 'lras largely contributed to the 'magnificent era, or prosperity that amw characterises the business and .social life of the country. Legislation has been; passed! which has attracted notice from the coiuntn'ps of the Old World, 'and whether it has been ita advanced land policy; the granting of the old age*

pensions; the providing of cheap money far settlers and workers; tho passing of humanitatrian labor legislation, and the numerous other, Acts which' 'have so assisted to promote the prosperity of the Dominion and the happiness of its people—tho one aim has been to assist in providing equality of opportunity for all. It is at once apparent that such a .policy as this, contrasting as it does, so widely with that of its predecessors, has aroused the most vindictive opposition of that section of the oommiunitv which previously fattened on the difficulties of the other. Every proposal made by the Liberals has been misrepresented and opposed with most vindictive hostility. The largo landholders and their friends decried tho Lands for Settlement Act as a blow .struck at the credit of the Dominion 1 ; the powerful loan, companies avowed that the cheap money scheme would mean tli« withdrawal of all' outsido posed the old ago pension because "the finance was not assured," and the labor legislation was condemned in the bitterest terms. But despite the prognostications of the Jeremiahs of the Opposition the building of the Liberal edifice has slowly proceeded., and always in spite of the implacable enmity of the opponents of the party. Of late years vast .-sums have been expended in the establishment of journals, in which hireling writers have been given a free 'hand to misrepresent, distort, and pervert tho actions of the Government. This policy of ■calumny has been; followed to such an extent that at last even four prominent supporters of the reactionaries have been compelled, as honorable gentlemen, to state that the action of their leaders in. regard to one particular alleged scandal was "a disgrace to party politics.'' it is not -necessary to refer in detail to the tactics of tho Opposition as a party. Charge after charge bias Ix'eii: refuted, again and again, only to be repeated ad nauseam. And now the issue is in. the bunds of the people. That issue is- Siwill the ■progressive policy of the past he abandoned, in. favor of a new order of things to be dictated! by the big land-owners and wealthy men of the Dominion, or shall the Libera! ■party be given a new lease of life, and so be encouraged to persevere in its good work for tho people as a whole Tbe question is one of .momentous importance, ,and. we feel sure, the electors will give their answer with no uncertain sound.