Greymouth Evening Star AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, MARCH 15th 1917. DEMOCRACY'S OBLIGATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 March 1917, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, MARCH 15th 1917. DEMOCRACY'S OBLIGATIONS

'l'm: British workers now thoroughly realise that their into is [wrapped up in I lie great: struggle [that is causing such devastation !in Europe- They are almost ! within i In' sound of the '''ims, and many of them liave had an opportunity of visiting ihe lighting line and of learning first hand the inie position of affairs. Their leaflet's have declared in no uncertain voice that the workers are behind the Government lo the last man, and that they will 11ever cease their e IV<ii'l s until German militarism is crushed. The Labour party make it their pride that when they enter into a struggle they do as a united body, and that when the British workers declare themselves in support of a movement they can rely on the practical co-operation of their confreres throughout the Empire- This being so, what must, the British workers think of the attitude of the extreme section of the Australian Labor Party? The Horn A- Fisher and Hon! W. M. Hughes, Labor re-

pvesen hi fives of whom (he whole t'hnpile is proud, wen! i(J Kniilaud iiiid visited the Western then Ire. Both were Liken into the confidence of Hie Imperial authorities, ami they know the real truth of the military situation. When Mr Rushes came hack to Australia he staled that conscription was necessary, but it i i fort 1111 ate lv for Au si raliu' s g'oorl name he allowed the people to take ;i [{el'erenduni on the question. This was defeated, and for this Mr flushes has no one to blame hut himself. If lie knew, as he did know, that conscription was essential for the welfare of the Kmpire in this war (hen he should, as a true slat email, have acted promptly and (irmly. The section of llu'' Labour Party that are now denouncing him so loudly could not have reviled him more than they art 1 dotii,i>' if he had put the Conscription Bill on the Statue Book without waiting for a Referendum, lie trusted in the patriotism of the Australian deI mocracy and he was badly deceiv--1 ed. Australia is so far removed

1 Iroui the storm centre- that the I people are quite unperturbed by what is <>'oin«' on in Europe. It it lie Empire is to hold together democracy will need to revise l considerably its idea of the obligations that it owes to the State. A belief has grown up that the function of the State is somewhat of the nature of a milch cow hom which unlimited supplies of nourishment may be drawn. Pen- :=, sions, sick allowances, free erlu- - cation—democracy demands jr. en. all as a ri»'ht. I( is when tht. : State makes demands on the individuals that the (rouble begins, and democracy attempts to kick.

Tin- contract, in order to be n binding one, must have a twofold obligation—the individual has claims upon the State which in its turn has equally strong claims on the individual. No true progress can be made where cither side ignores its obligations. The true democrat is he who in return for the benefits that he has received from the Stale is willing to give his best service on the State's behalf wliett such \r- u(jiiired. Unfortunately those who are loudest in their calls upon ibe State are the very ones who »vil] give the least in return. At no time in her historv has the \ic\ ■

tisli Empire been so destitute of statesmen. The war, has tried out our politicians, but very few have passed the ordeal with anything approaching brilliancyThe Empire is still searching for ;l Pit! to guide her through the final and most critical stag'* of ilip war. History has shown thai a State in v, Inch the Uove'-nmeu: is in the hands ol a democracy is the least titled to carry on a successful war- (jreece owed l«ei d.»\\ nlali io the fact that the State was split up into contending factions where pain was placed her.irc country and self belore ailThe Dutch Republic, cnee so powerful, abolished its supreme

Siadthohler in I (>:"><) because his position had aroused the envy oi (he Democrats, for twenty two \ears the Democrats had control and Holland lost her naval supremacy and. her world trade. Although the leaders of the Eivien devolution were men of undoubted genius, divided controls brought ' the country to bankruptcy and. the xovfye of ruin, from which it was saved by the_ organising power of the great Napoleon, who the" whole g of the power into his own lianas. Modern democracy is even more unfitted for the gigantic task of waging such a war as that now. in progress. Us great aim seems to he to reduce all men to one dead level. It seems to detest individualitv in any shape or formThe fate of Mr W. M- Hughes is

:i case in point- He went home as the chosen representative of the Australian Labour iParty- _ He showed brilliancy, and initiative that won lor him hi"'!) praise from the people of Britain. He came Lack to Australia and met his Waterloo- Modern democracy objects to a brilliant worker- The pace set in the workroom must, always be that of the slowest. Democracy thus -produces mediocrities everywhere, and especially so in politic". The eminent French democrat, M. Kmile Faguet, defines a politician thus:- "A politician in respect of his personal opinions is a nullity: in respect

ot education a meuiocrny; m shares the sentiments am passions ol' ihe crowd, his sole occupation is politics, anil il' tha career were denied to him lit would starve." We have lot many ol' his class in our House. l of Legislature, ami the soonei they arc placed on the retired list the better. The end of (he wai will sec the commencement of a greai economic struggle, and m order that we amy win through in this we must have in our I'arliameut men of talent and integrity- not those w!io win head and twist a 1 every change in, the popular whim- A true.statesman is one who lakes a broad and clear view ot the situation, sees what is required and ads with promptness and decision- He should have the courage io support a proposal no matter v.luH party brings jl along. On (he other hand. In; should denounce any Bill, no mat ier the aegis under u Inch il is launched, if he considers if retrogressive- The parly system does nol encourage the production of sia-h statesmen, and we trust that it will gel its quietus when the 111 in pire is being reorganised a tier the war-