The Dominion. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1908. THE DUTY OF A LIBERAL.
It would appear, from some observations by Mr. W. M'Lean in his address to the electors of Wellington East on Tuesday night, that all is not peace and love in the camp of JocaJ " Liberalism." Until the other day no cloud marred Me. M'Lean's horizon; his soul was full of contentment as he reflected that he was " the Government candidate." Suddenly, however, a rival appeared in the shape of Mn- Winder, who is not merely a Government supporter, but „ono of the bierarchs of Liberal-and-Labour-Federa-tion-iem. No wonder Mr. M'Lean found it necessary, as lie put it, " to apeak plainly,' 1 concerning this "most contemptible " invasion of " the Government member's" position. If Mr. Winder had resigned from his office in the Federation sufficiently long ago, said Mr. M'Lean, there might have been excuso for his action. -But ho did not so resign, and " ho came forward saying ho had nd desiro for anything but to assist the Liberal party, and yet the speaker was the Government candidate." Shocking! In opening his speech, Mr. M'Lean stated the principles of candidature, as we may call them, in the declaration that • he (Mr. M'Lean) "did not come forward because it was his ambition to be a member, but becauao ho wished to aid legislation making for tlio progroes of human-
ity." It is true that to people beyond tho pale of tho Federation this apologia seems hardly consistent with its author's hot assault upon a gentloman who may bo actuated by similarly noble motives in coming forward. But to think so is to confess oneself out of touch with " Liberalism." The iethics of candidature aro a little complex in " Liberal" circles, as will be clear from.another statement by Mk. M'Le.an, that " men should not come forward on such terms, flouting the Premier, Cabinet, and the rest of the Liborals in tho Dominion."
We cannot venture—an outsider and a heretic—to settle a disputo between two of. tho faithful. Everybody, of course, will regret that the dispute has arisen, and will hope that it will be settled in a way that will .do honour to the nation. It may' be hoped, also, that no angry word from the faithful, and no unguarded chuckle from the Gentiles,' will come to embitter tho dispute. The incident has its interest for other people than those whom Me. M'Lean so splendidly calls " the Liberals of tho ■ Dominion." The first duty, it would appear,' of a Liberal anxious " to aid legislation making for the progress pf humanity," is to avoid " flouting tho Premier," That tho Liboral and Labour Federation had under Mr. Seddon firmly established the rule of " machine politics," everybody was aware. Few people suspected, however, until Mk. M'Lean stated the othics of Liberal candidature, that Bossism was such a triumphant power in this country. Wo are now able to understand the full force of a remarkable passage in Sir Joseph Ward's speech at Ohariu on Saturday. "He would not," he said, " dis'cuss on this occasion the political position in that electorate. It;would be a little premature to do so. But later on he hoped to be able to follow the lino he had taken in other electorates, and when he had ascertained from somo of his friends who was likely to be a good representative, and to win the seat, ho would then be ready, to do • all that was in his power to assist such a man into Parliament." When this is the attitude of the master, all know what he means by " assistance "—it is small wonder that the disciples should consider " flouting the Premier " a form of mortal sin. One can imagine nobler political creeds than this one that denies tho very right of a Ministerialist to stand for election unless he has the cachet of the Central Council. One cannot imagine a political creed less worthy, or less likely to grow in honour, than that which imposes on its holders the obligation of effacing themselves when the Bosses order them to do so. The public is under no small debt to Mk. M'Lean for his candid revelation of tho first article of " Liberalism" in this country. It is quite worth knowing, as' we know now, that tho first duty of a Liberal is, not to advocate this or ''that principle, but to obey faithfully just whatever tho chiefs chooso to prescribe, and, above all, to subordinate everything to tho maintenance of an attitude of reverence and. respect for He-who-must-not-bc-flouted.
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Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 292, 3 September 1908, Page 6
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755The Dominion. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1908. THE DUTY OF A LIBERAL. Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 292, 3 September 1908, Page 6
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