THE WEEK.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XIX, Issue 3267, 3 November 1892, Page 2

THE WEEK.

The eyes of lovers of ord^r have been d fixed this week upon that court scene i at Demliquin of^Jhe Broken Hill t Unionist officials their trial for il conspiracy. Trials of strength between bi labor and capital are, unfortunately, n now the order of the day everywhere, al but, whatever be the merits of such ti atruggleSjit is absolutelynecessary that tl the law as it^nears on the statute 1

book shall be obeyed and that courts shall see that breaches \>f it are punished. Bad laws or laws which press unfairly on any class sfeould be altered, and in these times when the democracy is organised there is no difficulty in remedying laws which are shown to be unjust. That is the work of the Legislature ; the duty oi: the courts is to administer the law as they find it, and it will be an evil day when judges and juries are afraid to do their duty because of the pressure of popular excitement. The action of the law courts in New South Wales is in markedly favorable contrast to that of the French courts, j which some months ago were palpably afraid to deal with Eavachoi and other Anarchists according to law. The Dibbs Government in New South Wales may very fairly claim credit for showing that they consider the maintenance of law and order in the State as of greater importance than mere party advantage. Their official existence was threatened , by the labor vote in the Assembly i ' when they determined that whatever force was necessary should be exerted to preserve order at Broken Hill, and to throw the protection of the law around those who were engaged to take the places of those who declined to work, The free' laborer, has at any rate, the common claims of citizenship, and as a subject of the realm has the right to claim the protection of the law for his person and his property. If this cannot be afforded him, anarchy is not far off, for there is no safety for the weak as against the violence of the strong. It is no longer a question of unionism, but a question of lawless mob rule. The New South Wales Executive has shown that the law is supieme, and, having proved its strength, is in a position to exercise a discriminating mercy in answer to the petitions for remission of the sentences. The aggressive leaders cannot complain — people who play at bowls must expect knocks ; but those who have been led into violence are deserving of consideration. .Turning from the labor movement of violence and turbulence to that of political agitation we have on the other side of the world a very bold programme put forward by Mr. Chamberlain. The legal limitation of hours of labor, the early closing of shops, State tribunals for arbitration in labor disputes, old age pensions, and the other proposals mentioned in what is really a party manifesto indicate clearly that the member for Birmingham does not mean to allow his connection with the Whigs and Conservatives to repress his radicalism or to weaken his hold upon the democracy. In Yankee phraseology he will not be " left," he will be at least abreast with the social and labor movements of the day. The next year or two will probably be years of strife and change, and "that Mr. Chamberlain will figure prominently, and perhaps in the highest offices in the State, is quite to be expected. Continental affairs bear an unplea. sant look. Bismarck is very much in evidence in his opposition to the Grerman Army Bill ; he is annoying Austrian susceptibilities by encouraging Bussia in her pan-slavism, and rousing English feeling by urging that the Czar could now ensconce himself at Constantinople in spite of any opposition. On the other hand, as we predicted last week, the German Army Bill has brought the declaration that Kussia and France must increase their military power, and the heavy withdrawals of gold from London to Russia are looked upon with suspicion that war may be in contemplation. Industrial and Bocial troubles are being ao severely felt that international complication would net be unwelcome in many high places as a means of distracting attention and creating for the time greater unity. The week has been pretty well filled with horrors — great fires in America, particularly the enormous fire at Milwaukee ; the- wreck of the steamer ! off Lisbon, when hundreds ot lives I appear to have been lost by the cowardice of the Lascars ; floods in Mexico, with considerable loss of life, together with the usual list of murders, suicides, and minor casualties, make up a pretty black list for one week. Ik New Zealand a Minister of the Crown has been preaching socialism during the week more pronouncedly than has been previously ventured upon. Speaking at Auckland, the Hon. Mr. Beeves did not content himself with attacking the capitalist and the landshark, but went so far as to say that though in the past the middle classes had ruled in these colonies by means of occasional concessions zo the democracy, in the future this is to b"e all changed. The Wellington Post very well points out that the luiddle class in this colony are the people who by their thrift and industry have acquired property to a moderate degree ; and goes on to observe: — "In every British community the middle classes are recognised as the natural safeguard against revolution of any kind, and the most reliable guardians of peace, prosperity, and -constitutional stability. It is the existence of the great middle classes in England which has preserved that country against the revolutionary spirit which has gained ascendancy in bo many other parts of Europe and the world. Mr. Keeves now appeals to the greed of the lower classes, and seeks to inflame their passions against those who, if they occupy a better position in life, usually owe it to their o«m intelligence^, energy, and thrift. He 3eeks to incite class warfare of the most bitter and dangerous character, io bring the dregs of society to the mrface, and to profit by the confusion md destruction which would inevitajly ensue. It is a nice task for a Minister of Education to be devoted ;o--a splendid policy to be paraded iy the Ministers of the Crown !" \ ["he week hs.s been a pleasant one to rj armers. Plenty of sunshine has g ried up tfye bad roads and filled the 1 elds with grass, and everywhere o bis district at any rate is looking at r ' ;s best. And the prospects of the jason are excellent. The contracts t( dw being made cannot but be profit>le to the dairy farmers, who are ipidly becoming the backbone of ie coast; while on the other/ hand b< ie wool market wjears, & propiising at

aspect. Meat is low, and the returns coming to hand are not of the brightest. The fluctuations of this trade are very trying, especially to small men. It will be noted with satisfaction that the French army authorities are enquiring ac £o the value of the meat for feeding their soldiers, and if they take to using it, and other continental nations follow the example, iihich is not at all unlikely, the trade will be greatly assisted.