BRITISH GENERAL ELECTION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume VI, Issue 1172, 19 November 1885, Page 2

BRITISH GENERAL ELECTION.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1885.

As the writs fov the election of a sew Imperial Parliament were issued yesterday, the great fight may be said to have commenced in earnest. The contest is remarkable and unique for many reasons. In the' first place, it will show the effect produced upon parties by the reform measures passed by last Parliament, under which 2,000,000 of new votes were create^, and a more, equitable distribution of seats was effected. That in itself wonld make the election more than ordinarily interesting, quite apart from the circumstance that the actions of the

various Parliamentary parties during the past five years have to be pronounced upon by the nation. Then the election will settle the very important gueshoft as to what part the Irish party will be able to play in the new Parliament. There does not appqgr to, be much doubt that Mr. Pavnell will have a stronger following in the new Parliament than he had in the, old one. The, Franchise and Distribution of Seats Acts created more constituents and constituencies certain to return Parnellites. The problem- is whether the Liberals or' /Conservatives can secure such/a majority as .will enable them to outvote all opponents, including the Irish party. If not, if the Irish' party (which having a very ' definite object, is sore ' to be compact and weirdisciplined) ; be able to give office to which side it chooie, as was to a large extent the case in the late .Parliament, then there is a season of great' political coat dsion 'bo come. i Another result it>, be . l6oke3 tor is the determination, of the power and influence of the various sections of the Liberal perty. We believe that the time is rapidly approaching when the Whig and Radical sections of the Liberal party will absolutely part • company, the Whig element with the Liberal-Conservatives forming a ixew ,partj, possibly under some -new title. There is, we believe, even now. more sympathy between the Whigs and the moderate: Conservatives, than between, the Whigs and Radicals,, although for the time being theflatt^rj are unde^a^common leader^ .yery^wifc- : ingievidehce. is given 1 . 'of j the dissensions in^theLiberalcamp by, three articles in the For^iglitly Eeview f or : Oetober laet. In the first article, Mr. K. G. Brett, late .private secretary^to Lord)Hartington, sayß f that r u the brightest omen for a new Parliament wonld he to find itself presided by t a, Libpral, government; as little as pdssible 'resembling tHeflast." Mr. Dicey, one-of the most celebrated Liberal ! wncere i^ tbfl defines Liberal' ifi'm aB-^^Bdonf bftbongHfcJ'frfeedom of ; r relii^on^eea%^6 T frwn^^|Creedom of I f^t f WS3^M^ai^^mfL were all claimed/an'd, depsndlsd'. uj^n/tbis general 'principle 7 that the iSWejJDtTiti 6ther words - the majority of the citizens, a*c£aa* : unwisely ,ana" unjustly in intejrterin^ .with any exer%elsß% elsß 61 ixtHviinh] iii>e^ t prJiiheS oiwayti ..the so t flxerflweal J) aos infringe J !ie"liWjfiesJ t oJt ? o&eW : l-.^^ t . j Zaw«««. rwas{pOT^pttoi;Bn4r]*r was{pOT^pttoi;Bn4r]*o M that motto I, for one, adhere.^^.Bat.lj^ySi "The whole;thejory >of- niodem Liberals is that ? %^tete;|s.jio i tekft |n k*n&®s control bi the.mMßepyW&Jfodidn order tbsdo so it is to override the aghtspl &6-iu3hwStiulit jFor my; preeentt putpose' Jlis|^j^^6 say that a great portion: of lthe me^area car- ; ried ont by the Liberal par%Oafaring the last few years, and a still larger portion ot the measuref ebaduwed forth in the

Liberal programme of the future, are direct contraventions of the principles of individual liberty, direct contraventions, tbat is, of the fundamental principle of ad true and sound Liberalism." The third article is by Mr. Labouchere, and it is unnecessary to say that his is the Radical programme. J 1 ; Th6 title of- the paper is " The Promised Land." TKe first aim of democfaoy whioh he anticipates is abont to sweep the country is "to reduce the expenditure of the 'Ooort, io pat an end to the "hereditaryUpper Hoose, tor create an Imperial Parliament, freed from all control over^ local matters, elect for a maximum term of three years, whose members may be freely chosen by their being-paid for their services." The proposal for; Imperial Federation is not to' fiii'df favor with the Democracy until each time as the ! j colonies "axe prepared to transfer a! 1 portion of their independence in return for tbe right of representation." Then would come tbe passage of democratic legislation, which wonld deal witb the great problems of policies as follows :— " (1). The Land.— The tendency of legislation in the future must b& to suppres landlords, to convert the occupier into tbe owner, and to secure to the tiller some interest in tbe land whioh he cultivates. (2). Taxation.— lndirect taxation is a scheme of humbug and trickery, more worthy of savages than of a civilised state. The first principle of taxation should be that each man sbonld Know i exactly what he pays ; the second principle !

that the sacrifice Bhonld be equal. Both these principles wonld be met' by a graduated income tax, and a graduated succession doty. (3). Education. —It ought to be free, and children ought to be taught not only at the public cost, bnt to receive a simple. but sufficient meal while they are being taught. ' (4). Foreign Politics.— We ougat to follow tu.e example of the United States, arid not meddle in matters that do not concern us. We should leave the European Powers, with their vast armies, their restless ambition, and their open frontiers, to fight and quarrel as they please, and interfere with no one who does not interfere with us." Mr. Labouchere adds tbat this comprises " only a few of the legislative changes to which it will be the business of Democracy to give practical effect." With such divergent objects as these, how is the Liberal Party to hang together ? Conld any other than Mr. Gladstone lead snob a party ? _^_^^^^^^_______