THE LIBERAL POSITION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16492, 6 March 1914, Page 6

THE LIBERAL POSITION.

All politicians, we suppose, find it easier to attack than to justify, ar.d consequently most of them make Detter speeches in Opposition than in office. But we need not look for this particular factor in commanding the address delivered by Mr G. W. Russell last night, because tho member for Avon has been broadening in mind and knowledge continuously in recent years, and ho is one of the few men in politics in New Zealand who can be trusted to speak capably and convincingly whether in office or in Opposition. His brief experience of office undoubtedly enhanced his reputation as an administrator, and nowadays ho handles .vith certainty and confidence questions '.Hat once he was satisfied to discuss in the vaguest terms. His attack on tho Reform Government last night was a particularly able effort, and the Reformers will have to exert all their arts of subterfuge and misrepresentation to destroy tho effect of his cold, deliberate exposure of the muddle into which their Ministers have brought the finances of the dominion. But it was not only in attack that Mr Russell scored last night. His statement of the principles of Liberalism should serve to remind the public that there is at least one party in politics in this country that has been working along definite, popular lines for the good of ail the people. Tho magiv'ticent record of the Liberals during their two decades of power did not and could not exhaust the policy that Mr Ballance introduced, and, as Mr Russell showed, the Liberals to-day are ready to go on with the work of social and constitutional reform that has been interrupted with such unfortunate results. The plain distinction between the Conservatives, sailing under false colours as Reformers, and the Liberals is that the party in power has for its chief aim the conservation of existing

interests, the concentration of wealth and power in a few hands and the confirmation of such class distinctions as have been permitted to grow up ; while the Liberals are animated by the broad principles of equality of opportunity and equality of sacrifice. That this distinction exists and that it is incessantly in operation does not admit of doubt in the mind of any man who patiently and intelligently studies the politics of tho country. We do not propose to deal hero in detail with Mr Russell’s various points, because the speech is fully reported—a compliment moro than warranted by the quality of tho matter and the excellence of the method—and we trust that every elector will read it for himself.