THINGS POLITICAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 206, 18 August 1911, Page 11

THINGS POLITICAL

(B.v the Pen of a Woman.)

There is no Elisha to-day' to bring* word of the “ little cloud no bigger than a man’s hand ” on the horizon, but it is to be seen, nevertheless, and what this little cloud portends is going to bring about some big changes in our New Zealand Legislature. A real good storm is wanted to clear the air of the malaria with which Parliament lias become charged, and the country will surely* welcome a sw’eeter atmosphere, less tainted with intrigue and self-seeking opportunity. One has only to listen to

The Various Tirades on political matters to recognise the insincerity’ of the platforms enunciated, and a feeling of contempt arises in one’s breast that no man is courageous enough to strike right out on lines he can honestly say are his own convictions, but he must cotton to this or that party, kow-tow to his supporters, and abuse and belittle his opponents. The politician of to-day is becoming a hybrid species of th& breed. He poses as a lover of hiscountry and comes forward with are assumption of knight-errantry, as though he would redeem the people from bondage, but while professing* to break their chains he is

Busily Forging New

ones after- his own The bold schemer who would get into Parliament “ per fas et nefas” easily’ reaches the ear of the people. A string of high-sounding-phrases on so-called democratic principle elicits the most senseless approval. Men applaud to the echo the appealing words, but they do not see the little imp that is laughing at them in the man’s shadow. What does the workingman care, so long as his candidate declares himself a staunch Liberal or, better still, a Labourite 1 But therein he is so lamentably deceived that it is pitiable. We call this A Democratic Country,

but in. fact it is a country’ with very few democrats in its borders. The word “ Demos ” translated is ‘ ‘The People ” —not one class—or any other class but all classes in one—the whole of the People. Can it' be said from any point of view which may’ be chosen that this istaken in its true meaning by our present-day’ politician—be he Liberal or Opposition? Capital ia viewer as

The Tyrant of Labour.

Labour views Capital as his natural enemy. The werking-man fights for his own class, but the downtrodden suffer many cruel things. If Democracy’ were the active principle of Government, none of these things would be. We shukl have no party government. It would have no place, for the common welfare would be the Welfare of the Individual.

But how can this ever be brought about, with the conflicting elements of party strife and its attendant evils ? Where there is one of “ God’s good men ” who will come forward and say from his heart, “I am a democrat, one with, not of, the People, there are twenty men who will proudly declare themselves democratic Liberals, ancF~ they have no conception of the great principles of democracy, or its sacred services. The phase they assume is a sham—and why not ? they say. All men are struggling nowadays to hold their own. The candidate has No Time for Heroics. He puts up a good fight for whak he deems a good measure, but air the same time he is not out to lone his own interests. Naturally her will act in this manner, for the “ other man ” will do the same, and he can’t afford to play a losing game. If he would support himself he must support his party. Why blame him ? It must not, however, be overlooked that there ar& sterling exceptions to this sort of thing. Undoubtedly there are politicians working for and earnestly desiring their country’s good, but unhappily for the country there are

Men Who Could Do Much

in this respect who will not come forward for election. They realise how impossible it would be, in the present organisation of Parliament* to follow the lines of true democratic principle, and it is nob enough for such men to hold a certain creed ; conviction of its truth must actuate endeavour ; and this they know would be continuously frustrated. Personal ability is more than ever wanted to grapple with the difficult problems of the day, but while this is fully recognised “all sorts and sundries” are climbing into the seats qualified and reliable men should hold. Nevertheless, the “ little cloud ” is rising higher over the horizon, portentous of “change” on the political barometer. May it bring a wholesome gale of wind and rain that will cleanse the political gutters, and bring into new’ life the white blossoms of honest purpose, and the rich fiuit of self-sacrifice, rather than the odour of self-seek-ing opportunity.