THE Marlborough Express.

Marlborough Express, Volume XIII, Issue 1010, 23 March 1878, Page 5

THE Marlborough Express.

; I "Grra me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argu j freely according to conscience, above all other libertie -I— Mmrojr.

SATURDAY^ MARCH 23, 1878.

Manhood Suffbagb is one of those political dicta which, will in a few months receive the attention of Parliament, and if its consideration brings about any change in the present law, a dissolution will be imperative, as the present House of Representatives will then have ceased to represent the constituencies. Constitutional practice is well defined on this point and a Dissolution is always granted on the passage of a Bill which ►changes the voting power of the People. It appears to be the intention of Sir G. Grey to extend the privilege of voting, or introduce what he calls Manhood Suffrage. The political axiom that all who pay taxes should have a voice in their expenditure is one of those maxims which, cannot be controverted as general propositions, but that become complicated when an attempt is | made to put them in practice as a basis of Representative Reform. The sense of the people themselves shows that there is a section of every community utterly careless as ,to good Government, and whose votes are given regardless of the well-being of the country ; that others again vote under dictation and are consequently dangerous members of the body-politic ; while the third use the powerful influences of position and capital, for purely selfish motives inimical to the interests of the country. It will be seen at a glance that the latter are by far the most dangerous. Those who. vote under dictation, and we may always expect such a party, will merely use a negative power, harmless or the reveue as, the peculiar interests of their leaders are in the direction of progress or otherwise, yet always dangerous, to the degree it affects the general weal, and renders unstable the direction of partymovements. The first-mentioned, the carelessand untutored who are often swayed by every breath of political agitation, is the class which the proposed extension of suffrage is intended to reach. Looking below the surface we are prepared to admit this, anjl to confess that the proposal at the first glance appears to introduce an element of great disturbing power, and that it is from it the inclement of increase to the electoral rolls must come ; but at the same time we fail to see in what portion the " divine right" exists any class of British subjects, and keep them from exercising an influence in making the laws by which they are to be governed. If real Property is to be alone represented, then it should bear all the burden of Taxation, but the day is gone by when it is possible for the landowner to claim the right of governing the country and reducing the rest of the community to political serfdom ; and it is to check the desire to do this which they everywhere exhibit, or at least monopolise a controlling power, that is creating so much disturbance in Victoria, and is bringing about in New Zealand a demand for Manhood Suffrage. In itself it means that every British subject shall have a vote, and it is impossible to say that any person should not, without the majority at the same time predicating their political inferiority. So far as we. can learn, due precaution will be taken that a proof of the right to vote will be obtained by some kind of registration and residence, as .this appears to us all that can be demanded in a free country. That the classes whose influence goes entirely with selfish interests, or who vote under dictation, require a counterpoise is certain, and if it can be obtained by a well-considered extension of the franchise it will be a matter of rejoicing. So far as we can gather this is all Sir George Geey intends doing. The statement that foreigners, especially Chinese, might swamp the ballot, is proved by the experience of other Colonies to be groundless. Very few indeea get naturalised, the Chinese either returning or intend to return to their native country. The safety of any form of constitutional Government depends on the good sense of the majority, and it is not too much to say that we have as much of this commodity as any other British community. We firmly believe that the people will eventually show this, by resisting the power of capitalists and sectionaries on the one hand, and in controlling careless ignorance on the other. Ourduty seem plain, resistance to the two first named classe

nd forbearance and instruction to the third. It is a mystery difficult to fathom how some of our politicians fail to see that the intelligence and political information evolved by our Provincial institutions and frittered away in small party strife, is now being directed to general questions of polity and is fast becoming irresistible. In the other colonies the political education of the People has been effected by the continual turmoil caused by the attempts of the capitalists to seize the lands, and by defects in their constitution's which enabled the monopolists to partially carry out their purpose. The people of New Zealand, after emerging from the political contests engendered by Provincialism have awoke to the facttfhat the monopolists have succeeded here, and. that after seizing the country the people are called upon to improve this land which has been sold for a mere trifle. No wonder that liberal statesmen stand aghast at the scene, and look out for suoh remedial measures as Manhood Suffrage and the Taxation of the land to stem the torrent of disaster that threatens the Oolony. We do not advocate mob rule, but we see the stern necessity that exists for such a change in] our legislative {machinery as will stop such scandalous proceedings as the Canterbury Leases or the Piako Swamp sale. We have no doubt that when the proposed measures come before due care will be taken that additional intelligence only will get voting power, and that the result will be to lessen the influence of those classes that wish to reduce us to physical or mental slavery,