POLITICS FROM THE PULPIT.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 156, 23 November 1896, Page 5

POLITICS FROM THE PULPIT.

A LIBEEAL "UNHOLY ALLIANCE" DENOUNCED. t In continuation of the series of addresses which he has given of late as to the relations between religion and politics, the Rev. W. A. Evans, couductor of the Forward Movement, dealt last night with an "Unholy Alliance" which — turning the Premier's pet phrase against that gentleman's own party — he said had been formed between the Labour and Liquor Parties in Wellington. After giving a graphic sketch of the corrupt moral condition of the Kingdom of Judah in the time of Isaiah, and gathering from it the lesson that politics must be governed by the principles of justice and truth, Mr Evans went on to enquire to what extent the people of this city and colony were controlled in their selection of candidates for Parliament by ethical considerations. If the developments of the past few days were an indication of the political principles of a certain sebtion of the people, there was, he said, only one possible conclusion — that the people were involved in the same kind of captivity as those spoken of by Isaiah. When the history of the Electoral League and the Liberty League came to be fully disclosed, they would find a page as dark and horrible as anything in the history of the Tammany Ring in America. Sufficient was already disclosed to cause the name of Liberalism to become a by-word and a shame. Liberalism had been regarded as synonymous with the cause of the people, with equal opportunities, with progressive and enlightened citizenshipj with the elevation of the economic and moral standards of the masses ; it had the enemy of privilege and prerogative and monopoly. But here the ideals of Liberalism had been cast aside and their opposite accepted and engraved on its banners. The unholy alliance of liquor aud libert}', of monopoly and progress, had been ratified, and the leaders of the people had put their hands to the compact. When the men and women who had in their enthusiasm over an empty name been carried away came to consider the position, they would regret the action they had taken as the deepest wound that had been inflicted on the Democracy of the country. How far the Government was responsible he could not say, but it was well known that the Premier was present at the inauguration of the Electoral League, that the constitution of the League had his sanction, that the Women's Social and Political League (the members of which constituted the Premier's bod} rguarfl) formed an important factor of the Electoral League — therefore it was difficult to see how^the Premier was free from responsibility for the alliance that had been formed. The candidates of the League were the Government candidates, and presumably had thesympathy and influenceof the Premier behind them, and if of the Premier, then of the Cabinet. The result was that the Liberal Government of New Zealand had changed places with the Tory Government of England of the past, and had adopted its ideals, and with its ideals its methods. The Government of New Zealand, then, was largely in the hands of vested interests that had been proved to be inimical to the highest and truest weal of the working classes, as the leaders of those classes the world over acknowledged. How the leaders of the working men of Wellington could ally themselves with the drink traffic was past his comprehension, except on the assumption that loyalty to one idol had for the time being blinded them to the real issues at stake, in which wise a very serious charge must be laid against a Government which necessitated such an alliance in order to retain office. The question before them was this : Was New Zealand to be governed ,by a Democratic Parliament which should express the highest standards oi intelligence and morality in the country? or was it to be governed by a Parliament in which the interests of a class, and that not the most desirable in the community, should be supreme ? He cared not what Party was in power, but he did care whether that Party was free enough to consider such questions as affected the welfare of the people, and patriotic enough to put the general weal above selfish interests. The unholy alliance strove to take possession of our municipal as well as our national politics. Last year the Mayoral election was fought on distinct Parly lines. This year they were distinctly told it was to be a test of the relative strength of Liberalism and Conservatism in the city. Here, again, the idol of Liberalism wai offered to the people as their ijod, aud once

more the Trades and Labour Couucil had issued its mandate that the people must bow down and worship it. This was an attempt to falsify the issue, and import meaningless terms into municipal politics. Our Chief Magistrate, if he assumed office as a Party man, simply . rendered himself incapable of rightly discharging the functions of his office. He should be a man who went to his office thinking of nothing but of the best way to promote the interests of the city. The question of the fitness of two men for the ofiice was therefore the real issue before the ratepayers, and not any question as to the strength of Parties. Underlying all politics there were great and eternal principles, and the duty of Christians was to place these principles in the forefront, and see by all righteous means that they should be supreme. ""Sir" Eobert Stout will address the Newtown electors at the Wesleyan Schoolroom on Friday evening next. Meetings of his committees of both sexes are advertised for Wednesday. Mr. Stuart Menteatb, who speaks at Clyde-quay School to-night, will be at Sydney-street to-morrow night, the Alhambra Hall on Wednesday night, and St. Paul's School, Tinakori-road, on Thursday night. His women workers will meet at the Committee-room to-morrow evening at 7 o'clock. A largely-attended meeting of women electors was addressed by Mr. Hutchesou on Saturday afternoon at the Clyde-quay Committee Rooms, and received a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. Mr. E. J. Le Grove will address an openair meeting in Wordsworth-street on Thursday night in support of the candidature oi Mr. J. Hutcheson. Mr. Charles Wilson will address tho women of Newtown at the Aluambra Hall to-morrow afternoon. Dr. Newman's committee of women will hold a meeting at the Oddfellows' Hall, Lower Hutt, on Thursday afternoon. Meetings of Mr. Wilford's Newtowh Coinmitfces are ad\ertised— men's for tomorrow, and women's for Wednesday.