POLITICAL BLUNDERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1252, 7 October 1911, Page 14

POLITICAL BLUNDERS.

Sir,-Long immunity, safe passages hreugh many and great dangers, are apt to create- a dangerous confidence We prone to believe in some natural law prelv m rf S °H r and to rest suplne1} under tho conviction that "it will all come right." Many who agree as to the correctness of tho above as'sertiot wll ?vn e ( fi eles .' mako bl,t sma " «ffort to rn f, lft wf , Such & vsons I ivouJd remind hat here can bo no sound reliance sa\e in individual interest in our coun the "*S ot our institutions were sufficient to resist former attacks, yet these institution have been weakened by even victory? thai t IS f the , themselves, our pae- ™/° rtl ? ca , tlo 3 yMeh are now throat savo'tW thi l° nly ? ctke defence can be i Tho Coming election sll °uM •Not onW l aS «, a occasion. t T y > ie the nation-to demand an done m l°l "r** tW ?? S th ' at *«« be£ ?W ' ? as i the things taSi nf H° wdT °l ? ro Posed. Ministers of the Ward coalition, in their few and feeble winter utterances, have been hinting obscurely at repose, and a pause in activo legislation. This mav bo possibly only a blind to cover some signal innovation. But if it bo a candid admission, it has no real value. The choice between action and inaction docs not rest with Ministers. If they will not move, then their masters will. Can tho Hard Cabinet suppress tho clamour tor land reform," education reform socialisation of tlio means of production! <* c -.. <='<■'•■? J Will they dare to accede to the demands of religious sections of the Cliurchj- Giro vent to the demands of the Prohibition party? And if they dare how will they guard themselves agains the Opposition-whon Mr. Massey shal ?; i i l A° la " ,1 issues. Mr. Poland the miners' interests, and Mr Myers the brewers' financial welfare? By tho timo the election arrives it will have dawned upon Sir Joseph Ward that the course he and his Ministers have adopted towards Labour, land, education, and railway expansion have been completely discredited, and their ignorance censured. That Irishman who bored into a barrel of gunpowder with a red-hot poker, thinking to draw forth refreshing whisky, did not commit a greater or more fatal blunder Iho Premiers presentation to the Homo Government of a Dreadnought may peradventure, have secured to him his baronetcy, but Democracy will assuredly wipe out the doubtful honour next month I am far from saying that there is no law of kindness, or that there is no power in moderation and courtesy. I admit that there are times when'it is weJl to agree with your adversary quickly. But I know, although Sir Joseph Ward, Baronet, apparently does not, that discrimination/ is necessary in applying these laws and maxims; and that they are not intended for undistinguished general use Tho same highest authority which scribes chanty and forbearance, cautions also the peaceably-disposed against wasting, and worse than wasting, their good offices. Ihere are somo creatures before whom we aro expressly told not to cast our pearls, under a penalty of which Sir Joseph Ward, perhaps, at length, understands tho moaning: "Lest they turn again and road you."

[lie people of (lie Dominion must perceira by this time that to maintain Sir Joseph nard iu. office is not the way for forward liberal measure!:. It is thewnv to oiisure a'deadlock. If tho btifiiws of Uμ country is to be ttith at

all, a Ministry capable of creditably managing out alTnirs, and of onntrollin; their own part?-, must be in oflico. Tin sections into which the Wnnl Govern meut lias split up (ho Ministerial siili ol the House will- neutralise each other unless sonio of them go over to Hie Oppo sition. There i>, proparly speaking, ni such thins as a Liberal party at present mul it will-bo tho duty of thoso who dif Jer little from Mr JUnssey's echcincs t< give him thoir moral "support. Th< speeches of the Prime Minister am Messrs. Fowlds an,l Poole all point to i speed}- exodus of the present powers tha w. J hey am apparently taking measure ot their party's possible strength after tin forthcoming election. Whether (he Oμ position are to govern, or whether it ma; bo their duty to "work and wait" a littl. longer, tho Opposition has even- rcasoi to congratulate themselves on the rhe-;] which the Wardinian destructive polio; has received, and on the commanding posi tion which tho Opposition of Mr. Masse l » honourably represents. The whole o i V". Zealand s people who are not blind ly biased must see and feel by this tin* that Sir Joseph Ward has unsettled every thing and settled nothing. When he i engaged pulling down, then his energ' knows no bounds, and nothing is allows to stand between him and the gratificatioi of his desires. Witness his land, aji< education, and railway expansion. Bu once he has razed and' shattered there i an end of his endeavour, and an end b everything like action for a distinct pur pose. Bewildered in the ruin that ho lia made, ho is powerless to repair or to tc store. If we wero delivered from his auto cratic rule now it woild take ten yeara o reconstructive government to heal th breaches that : he has made, to re-establisl what lie has uiisettled, an'l to remode what ho has disintegrated. Ho caiino claim tho electorates' confidence bv reasoi of reduced expenditure, for the Estimate are as high as ever. Neither can h claim it on account oX able manngemen of tho Army or Postal Departments. H will, it is true, continue a littlo longer ii office, but it will be as a Minister on sui ferance. Every week brings out the coi redness of tao peoulc's loiig-stnndin, opinion that he has failed. Every wee] the consciousness that he'lias been a hug mistake becomes more- and more disscmin ated among the mass of the people. Th remaining two months of office may sui fice to convey to all thoughtful person his pon-orlessness to carry forward a pro gronsive democratic policy, and when tha conviction shall havo once been establish ed the fear that ho will ever again hav Eower to harm us may be dismissed. II as broken down too notoriously and to> generally fnr liim ever again to bo en trusted -irith the Premiership. It is whi< Sored in semi-official quarters that ('hi istinguished statesman intends voluntai ily to withdraw his services from a poo pie unworthy of such a blessing. If po as has frequently been. pointed out, th advantages to him and to us of such i step aro. mutual. Ho might seek som learned, aristocratic retreat, whence li might launch essays upon Dreadnought and satires upon a world that is no worthy of his genius; and who knows bu that in this line he might find the succes for which ho has angled all his life, am for which he lias sacrificed consistency ii vain? Thus we have to note only th bitter collapse of an aspirant wlio wa "tho expectancy and roso of the fai State," who was to be himself deliciao hu mani generis, and his rule a return to th SatuTnian Age! Alas, for the art of aris tocracy's rnling! Alas, for high preten sions! Alas, for the art of ruling mad' easy! Our regenerator, Sir Joseph Ward is quite, quite down, and the sonwini world must bo sliuntod back into its well worn grooves, and get on as it may in th old work-a-day fasliion.— l am. etc.. BAK-A I'OSTUS. Auckland, October 3.