The Hastings Standard Published Daily. THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 1896. THE RESPONSIBILITY, OF TOMORROW.

Hastings Standard, Issue 187, 3 December 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 1896. THE RESPONSIBILITY, OF TOMORROW.

l-"or the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrnnss that need resistance, l'or the future in the distance, And the that we can do.

A (tKkat ami serious responsibility rests upon the electors of the colony, and to-morrow they must select the men whom they wish to represent them in Parliament. If the electors choose wisely then we have 110 fear j for the future of New Zealand ; but, \ if unfortunately the electors should ! unwisely cast their votes for inc-om- | potent and corrupt men, then it is | needless to say that the country must ! and will suffer. The men who seek ] to represent the electors in Parliament j must be judged from several points, j The qualities v, hich should be insisted ! upon are a clean bill of health in the J public and private life of the candij date, wide and varied experience, sound judgment, and a patriotism s which will animate and influence his ! every action. It is argued by some | people that a man's private life has ' nothing to do with the question. We | entirely disagree with this view, for we i believe that a man with a kink in his ! private character cannot be trusted in 1 any public capacity. A good charac--1 ter and unsullied reputation we hold ' to be above all others the paramount ; requirement of a public man. In the ! past, office - seekers, place - hunters, ! greedy, grasping, self-seeking politi--1 cians have found their way into Par-

liament, where they have managed to swelter in corruption and in thievery. We can do without such men, and it is the duty of the electors throughout the colony to prevent such men obtaining a seat in Parliament. This in itself is a serious responsibility, and it may be taken for granted that if the decision is based on the private character of the candidate, the decision will be a good one. The measures that come before Parliament deal with a great variety of subjects, and we want the best and most capable men to discuss these subjects to sift the good from the bad, so that the results may be for the benefit of the people of this country. We do not want any class representatives, to foment class hatreds and animosities. A civil war between capital and labor, between the" employer and employee, means decay and disruption to the state. Electors should look also for patriotism in their representative, not that electroplate make believe stuff that is plentiful, but that genuine sentiment which leavens every action and ennobles every effort. We are anxious that the electors should set up a high ideal, and chose according to that standard.

To the electors of Ila wke's Bay we do not presume to tender any advice as to whom they shall choose. Both the c indidates, Captain Russell and Mr Eraser, are good men, and it is for each elector to decide for himself or herself as to which of the two more nearly approaches the ideal, and to vote for that one. But, if for 110 other reason than that the land and labor policy of the present, Government should receive a fair trial, we consider that the electors of the colony should «rant the Liberal party an extension of their coniidenee. We hope every oik; qualified to do so, will to-morrow exercise the privilege of voting. It is a. duty we owe to ourselves and to our country, that we should mala' a proper use of the privilege. It is the one act, of every citizen that should be performed as a, solemn duty, even if it should involve some .sacrifice of time and trouble. We trust that the elections of to-morrow will be memorable for the wisdom and sagacity displayed by the electors.