"A DEPLORABLE EXHIBITION."

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 71, 26 March 1910, Page 9

"A DEPLORABLE EXHIBITION."

"MADMAN'S HOLIDAY." Preaching at a recent afternoon service at St. Paul's Cathedral, the Archdeacon of London made a, strong protest against the manner in which the General Election had been conducted (reports the Sydney Telegraph). He said*: — During the past few weeks we have been watching the remarkable sight of a Christian nation electing those representatives who were to have the tremendous responsibility of governing for the next few years. It was a curious spectacle. We might have looked for some attempt at self-control, restrained discussion, a, desire to get at the facts of every prominent question, for couitesy, justice, and common-sense. What we did see was the most vociferous talkers of either half of the nation doing their crazy utmost to prove the other half to be either knaves or fools or both. Some of the greater and wiser men, of course, were reasonable and generous — all honour to them ! But those who excited most notice were the makers of wild and bitter speeches. There was a general atmosphere of the imputation of unworthy motives. Never were wholesale misrepresentations so rife. A speaker was listened to in proportion as he dealt in harsh and shocking personalities. The walls 'teemed with misleading placards. Diametrically opposite to the practice in the free-speaking American Republic, there was in innumerable meetings a brutal and tyrannical refusal to hear what the candidates had to say. There was a general spirit aroused of hatred and malice, and an appeal to ignorance, exaggeration, and intolerance. Such a deplorable exhibition can only be palliated by the untenable excuse that a geueral election is madmen's holiday. It discloses a state of mind in this country for which we, as a Christian nation, whatever our politics may be, should feel profoundly humiliated. For when we think of all the efforts of Christianity to plant in men's hearts the true spirit of God's Divine message in the Gospel, the sight of all this at so crucial a time is grievously disheartening. The country might, the "Archdeacon added, have expected some little savour of Christian forbearance and kindness throughout these roaring, turbulent, and repnlsive weeks. Experience during the melancholy month of January had been painfully disappointing.