"THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A MIGHTY EDIFICE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIII, Issue 102, 6 May 1887, Page 2

"THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A MIGHTY EDIFICE.

—1-1- —^ — ' • '■' ' (To the Editob.) Sib, — I hope you will not acpass me of " jumping " your- claim if I : . endeavor "io point ont some'bf the innocent absurdities contained m Mr Clifford's remarkable diatribe on your "leader." I will, aa you wish, be' as brief as possible, Mr Clifford dreads the fall of a <( mighty edifice " by the State removing its " foundation stone." As Mr Ballance's proposal amounts to a ohange only m the system of land tenure, the evils Mr Clifford anticipates are not likely to follow. Mr Ballance is not the first architect who has \ added to the beauty and strength — or perhaps in.this instance I should say pre\ vented the collapse — of ah edifice by the judicious use of his skill. But perhaps m using the general term " land tenure " Mr Clifford refers to th^fc particular form known as " the freehold," a form fast; tottering to its fall amongst many oppres sed nationalities. If so, I would suggest tbat Mr Clifford inform us when 1 and where the " foundation . stone " of hia " mighty edifice "was laid ; was it during the 4004 years 8.C., the history of whioh is to be found m the Old Testament, or must we look to the Christian era for suoh a striking example of man's lore for hia fellow men ? • Does Mr Clifford acoept the account of the creation as given m the lst ohapter of Genesis. If so, can he deny that the Maker of the earth was ta first freeholder, and, although he .gave man dominion over the earth, it will puzzle Mr Clifford to show when, where, and how He haa bean a consenting party. to man's usurpation! of his freehold rights. I do not ask Mr Clifford who laid the •« foundation .stone " or erected the " mighty edifioej" because the impress of the father of : lies and his long robed brigade is plainly, visible on etery stone of the structure. I oannot, howeve-, help asking, m the olassioal language of a Clifford^ " 0 ye gods and little fishes," where were lus. ordained ministers when their master and; their flooks were so fleeced ? i I do hot think Mr Clifford and the "large landed proprietors" need "tremble iv their shoes " at any reform attempted by those: mook Liberals Mr Balanoe and Sir R. Stout, so long aa that arch-enemy of the working men and small settlers, "Sir J. VogeJihas any hand m controlling their political • aotipn. — Yours, 6t0., ••.-•-.'■-.■ x .•'... \ ; . : Quilp. Picton, May 2, 1887.