PARLIAMENTARY ACTION.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 101, 26 October 1904, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY ACTION.

* We cannot see that the difficulties of either the Imperial Government or the 'Tsar will be materially affected by the silly resolutions which our Legislature passed yesterday. The wisest word contributed to the debate in either chamber was the message of the Agent-General, which was clearly intended as a hint to the Premier to exercise some self-re-straint, and not to make a tragedy which everybody deplores the occasion for airy bombastic display of patriotism. We are not surprised at the Premier's determination to ignore the hint, but it does • astonish us that Mr. Maasey and the House generally should have meekly followed his lead without doing more than eliminate the most objectionable part from the resolution. Though the leaders on both sides of the House refrained from offensive language themselves, their followers were not all equally discreet, and much was said that would have been better left unsaid on a motion which should certainly have been left unmoved. We all love the Empire, and are prepared to fight for it if necessary, but we need not be always talking about it, and we shall be more respected if we do not show quite so ostentatious a desire to lead the Empire and the world. A little manly reticence would be a pleasant change after the everlasting gush for which we threaten to become a by- word.