Notes by Colonus.

Bruce Herald, Volume x, Issue 957, 13 November 1877, Page 6

Notes by Colonus.

PARLIAMENTARY INIQ0ITT«

•, Tbe struggle for office which has lately been going on at Wellington "is not a particularly^ delectable sigbt -"'for' -the country, especially as ther game is a somewhat costly one, in voTving'the' expenditure of 'much time and'money. If members were; not paid for the time they sit in Parliament, the country might be indifferent about the session being lengthened out for over. six months or more, but as it is, the duration of the session is a ; I matter of i mpor tance ' to the ' taxpayers, who I have to provide /or ; the expense. ' Surely before direct motions of ,votes ; bf ho confidence: are made, it should be quite apparent that one | administration is hiiich more likely to ;be beneficial to the Colony tbau another. We I don't want, to see the House of Parliament I made the arena for party fights and political, i squabbling. When, however, an jattempt is made to change the administration it should be done in, a decorous manner, and members; .should not behave like a lot .of school, boys.. It IS deplorable and UlSgracefui to see either party resorting- to all sorts of ; .wretched subterfuges, and dodges ,:to obtain po^yer* It is not only insinunted, but openly aud broadly, stated, that: such methods for? ob- : tuiniug support have been Tesdrted to as are well calculated-- to 'lower our Parliameut in theestimation of- our own people; aud of all ri'itiohs'bf tlie r civilised Vworld, or of such of them as are aware of the existeuce of bur Parliament; I seie i it asserted by 'th'e-WeHing-tori ; c6rre'Bpbnderit of a -Duriedin newspaper writing Oh the subject, "that there is. not tbe least dbubt'tbkt there id a good deal of direct 4nd ! indirect bribery' going on." ' What are we to think.' of nien who engage in the sale and purchase of yijtes ? Are such men fit to sit in Parliament ? 'Ibis. sort of thing

is simply yillairious .arid. , atrocious, .I^ave. men, ejieyated, to an hqnpurabjle .position, no more respect for theniselvea and the honour ftf the country, than to resort to such shameful pract ices ?, vls the _ possession of power by either party of. sy.ch vital importance to the. welfare of the, nation.as to justify a resort to such yile expedi§uts ? Well would it be if \ he electqrs were more circumspect as to the sort.qfnien they Tet«rn to ParHamept'.' Let us fry to get honest men ; in,* and purge tha Assembly of all rogues. /How can' we expect benefit to accrue to'tbecountry fromthe deliberatiousor 1 Parliameut,! if there ho * co>n sidcrable lekve'n qf Viilany In the National Qur Parliament would seem to he, to some extent, composed of nien with cqoscieoQesJwpcrvlous to the voice oF God, and miuds: unsusceptible'' to the dictates of social honour. - .There appears'- to be .some mean wretches who will actually accept little sums of cash to vote oh -due side or t^e otUer. j This? gqrt irf fa\ n g is -beyoqd all endurance H ere ire are dpi ng our utmost to educate the people at the pubUa expense^ because it- is oohsldered people'are'likelyjto be^ more moral and better conducted members of sbciety. when educated than ''iKey ; are^ uried^c^t^- A: fine example of oVqt^itX "a^r has lately jieeri Bplfins the 'people. Surely, about the mosV accursed traffic kno\\;ri to '- humanity is the bargain andrS.ale.ojf conscience, and ahou.t ihe* \yo.rst qcci^U^ j^^^^l^in^tipg to _ pmhafie tvinaan coii-

sciences, or constraining men fo violate their consciences. It yvac the' Devil who," according to the old story books, used to be always trying to. enter into bargains with men for their I souls This was supposed. to be the principal occupation of bis Satanic. Majesty. Surely such traffic is true devils';, work. I do not want to be more caustic' in my remarks than is warranted by circumstances I know that human nature is weak and fallible, and' that self interest-is apt to bias men's opinions and actions, (Sometimes almost imperceptibly to themselves, and that paragons 6( 'virtue are rare -among the 'human species, 1 but it might be expected of mehlßers of Parliament? that they should set the country ; a good" -example 61 pure and honourable conduct; -Moreover, this iniquitous' traffic in votes-appea < rß' ! td- ; bave been done almost opchly/withoufc much attempt to hide it for the sake of public decency, the villmy being blazoned forfh to thewbrld. Shameful charges' are made in tb"e public newspapers which, as far as I see, are allowed to remain altogether uncohtradictedi v;r Some plain-speaking country v people" seem' to have got an"; idea '''into ' t.beir " v Keadß that our great National Assembly is little better than a den of robbers? Oh I vahity o'f : Vai)itieß-! Of what etVrnal coneeqti'ence are all pur little temporary interests, ~ that men ihould debauch their consciences to obtain rank' or wealth ? This world is Ood's balance in ivhiclV be ■iveigbs the soiils'of -men, and the memory of -our actions done- In fl tbis ?life may cheer or distress- us:' through^ the life eternal - Tbis -world will become rSld-and perish in time, but the history- 1 of humanity, containing aii account of all our actions,twill never perish. It is a spiritual record,' iu^ erasible and indestructible. ' ?!