The Hastings Standard Published Daily. SATURDAY, SEPT. 19, 1896. THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 125, 19 September 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 19, 1896. THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

There is the faintest touch of comedy in the political performance that took place on Wednesday evening and continued on Thursday afternoon. .The Pensioners Bill was in Committee, and the faddists who fancy themselves Heaven-born reformers licked the measure out of all semblance of its former self. Each of the fanciful reformers desired to extend the volume of luxuries, and, possibly, with a full knowledge that the Bill would not pass, piled up the expenses in connection with the measure to a tremendous height. The Premier, who, we have no doubt, was really earnest in wishing to get the Bill on to the statute-book, might well be disgusted with the levity and license of his followers. He threw up the Bill and with it the responsibility, and he was right. If men, elected to devote the best of their intelligence in examining and passing Bills likely to be of service to the community, abandon their duties and responsibilities at a time when their best efforts and closest attention were needed, and prefer burlesque to business, how is it possible for one man to stein the tide of their in sans frivolity. The House has reached, as it were, its dotage. The general election is within measurable distance, and the interests of members are purely personal. How many of them can nuke certain of enjoying a continuance of

their Parliamentary privileges and fat pay for another triennial period ? Their interests are not those of the' country, and to expect altruism from them is to hope for too much. The Premier knows this now, and he will do well to dismiss them at the earliest possible moment. The usefulness of the present Parliament ik over, and members may well be sent back to the electors to give an account of themselves and win a renewal of confidence if possible. The episode of Thursday has its uses, inasmuch as it clears away the political cobwebs that have darkened the House of The session will come to a Speedy end, and the Premier was quite right in consulting his party as to the desirability of an early dissolution. A general election involves political dissipation, and the country will be glad to have the business over. The events of the last few days should impress upon the elector the necessity of preparing for the struggle ; and once again we counsel our readers to register.