THE Mount Ida Chronicle AND St. Bathans Weekly News. SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1878.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 466, 30 March 1878, Page 2

THE Mount Ida Chronicle AND St. Bathans Weekly News. SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1878.

The > T ew Zealand lories atfect to regard Sir George Grey's programme whlT indifference. With regard to universal suffrage, Major Atkinson told his I>ew Ply. mouth, audience that "it is a matter of " very small importance."' With re ard to a tax upon property, in particular upon landed property, he would hare had them believe it was that which his soul longed after. At the same time, it cannot have escaped the attention even of .New Ply. mouth that Mr. Bowen, Mr. Ormond, and other lesser lights of the Atkinson party have spoken strongly against this matter of " very small importance," and against that which Major Atkinson so desireth. Mr. D. Rvid has yet to take the Taieri into his confidence, but, while we esnect from him a pungent and practical criticism of the Liberal platform so far as he may be able to apprehend it or ventures to approach, it, yet we do not expect that his of late gradually increasing Toryism will have received any material check front the acknowledged popularity of the present' Government. It wo.ild be well to know what it is the people have to guard against when Liberal. ideas are, in pursuance of ;heir will, being attempted to be converted into more prac tical Liberal acts. If it were old-fashioned Conservatism that had to be fousjht a mere dislike of change of sudden nature because it is change, or a steady belief in the certain benefits of the ever-present rather than the speculative chances of the future—advancing Liberalism would have a real friend instead of an insidious foe. Such a Conservative party would be found carrying into law the rery acts the Eadieals paved the way for. This has been the history of reform in England. Lord Lytton (the Governor-General of India, a Conservative nominee, and the son of a Conservative of no mean note) quite recently gave a definition of British Conservative policy when addressing his Legislative Council at Calcutta. After stating that the Government of India was a Conservative Government, and expressing a hope that it would ever continue to be so, 'he went on to say : " Improvements " really required by change 'of circum- " stances are the best ioundanoii for a " Conservative policy and in no way op- " posed to it. JN T o administration is really unless its policy be vigi- " lantly though cautiously remedial. " Timely remedy from above" is the only " sure preventive of violent revolution " from below. Destiny is a fair player, " and never checkmates a nation, a'fo- " vernment, or a class without first crying " check. It is the interest as well as the " duty of those concerned to heed that " warning cry, and shift their pieces ac- " cordingly." This is, in a few words, a masterly and ingenious apology for the history of the Conservative 'policy in England during the past thirty years. In New Zealand we have no sucl/traditional Conservative party to make ingenious apology for past Liberal action. There are necessarily many men scattered through the Colony who have been reared in the midst of Conservative traditions, and who, from their artificial habit of thought, consider a man who expresses Radical or Democratic views as possessing a mental twist, a creature whose proper shackle should be a strait waistcoat. Yet these are so fcvr as to hardly constitute a class, and certainly are not strong enough to influence a political partv. The opposition Sir George Grey will be met with is the silent but ever-growing aggressive Toryism of quickly accumulated wealth and artificial class influence. The man who, from a humble position, has—thanks to his energy or fortune—become speedily rich is a self-proud man. He invariably vaunts himself, md he never fails to despise his neighbor who has not kept pace with him in the rush for wealth. Similarly the second-class professional man who has obtained artificial rank in the public service—perhaps forsooth because his brains and character could not command even adequate independent support —struts his day's stage with all the airs of a full-plumed bird of paradise, despising man his equal, and boasting himself even against God his maker. The men from these classes constitute oar Tory party. These are the men who by trick, where bluster fails, would impede the steps of the majority who are striving to place all-men on an equality in the government of the Colony simply and solely because of their common manhood. Mr. Ormond and Mr. Bowen are admirable representatives of the two elements of aggressive Toryism. We do not grudge the class their representatives, or the representatives the-class. The fundamental idea at the root of the New Zealand Tory creed is an expression of holy horror that it should be proposed to give to ihospv who have notf gathered capital the same voice m pub'ic affairs as is now poSsessed'by those 'vrhb haW ft is this abhorrence of has incorporated voting into thfe constitutibn"of "our local bodies, and which. has invenled'a rlFth of a man,' and: even ari<? forty-£fth ? ' as -a possible co'n* stituent in or Municipal eleci tion. Oh tliii'priaciple manhood counts ■ for nothing. Stripped-of money, a man, an ox, and ass have an equal voice in the ; represimtatfbn IbMtie ebantrjL *T Jj} &ai» I who has not;Eav,od money is by the de- > votees at the shrihe'of wealth' represented : being a .drunkard or a fool. Would ■we % governed,°lbey ask,, bjSdrinkards 'and fools? And in tlus there is introduced a sub'fle'aTsfiriction not "readily apprehended, c A drunk vFho ;is;ito be forrad in the ■ bar and is ; known to the police, is an ©bjefct for ; htterfcd-ahd-bitter- contempt \ —to be ; fined' [and imprisoned: he is a drunkard* : -'-J? drunk ha*; the entrS ;of the bar parlor or gets drunk at home, iis a prodigy whp_would rise to any ; greatness if he were only sob<?r, and in no case is itp^be^despised as.a profii£a|g.Qr his vote .or posJafryof ■ his ffve voids': "he is "not a 'drunkard I kOur do not aiake any 'allowance for honesty in their apportion- : imeut of the franchise. If the wealth of Ithose who have grown rich suddenly were [to be subjected to deductions of all ihathad ; been dishonestly acquired or accumulated fairly by reason of knowledge obtained unfairly there might be large balances for Ifthe unfortunate, the widow, and the i • •

orphan/ On the other hand, how many intelligent men conld now be rich if they had chosen to be" as equally unscrupulous as their , se.lf-rjroud neighbor.. Tet aggressive Toryism of wealth or of class' makes no allowance for honesty or dishonesty. -. He who has riches is wiser and fit to say who is to govern the State ; he who has foolish and unfit to be counted as a man. Honesty is a consideration for the inrrrortals. ; We do not fear that the minority ;of wealth and class w'e""recoguise as taking the place of a Conservative party in our politics will ever press the majority -into subjection, and establish themselves as an aristocratic class. No doubt the attempt will be made, is being made, and is even foolishly enough gaping after, shadowy titles. Such a class has no external elements to work in its favor. It cannot boast superior education, traditional government, or natural dignity. It resolves into insignificance as soon as its effort becomes appreciably apparent. Advancing Liberalism cannot, however, ignore the ever-watchful wave of aggressiveness be-, cause its followers are foolish. It has one great motive power—self-interest—-ever keeping it alive. Democracy, fortunately, is also based on self-interest : v the individual interest of every unit in the population. Not only so, but she more nobly acts in the interest of her opponents. Toryism hates and despises manhood; Democracy respects the manhood even of her opponents, but despises the mere mightiness of their wealth. To stem the impending struggle, the Liberals in the country districts must no longer stand aloof from those in the towns. The interest of town and country in all higher legislation is one and indivisible—the common interest of men. The- country •constituencies cannot prevail without the support of the towns, neither can the towns strengthen the Assembly without the support of Liberals from the country districts. The Liberal interests in town and country combined can overthrow any ■combination of men that can be organised under the leadership of the honorable gentlemen lately composing his Excellency's Government and now leading his Excellency's Opposition to protect property from bearing its proper burdens.

Mr. D. MacKeli.ar, we observe, has withdrawn his name as a candidate for election to .j-he Education Board.

Saturday, the 30th, before four p.m., is the last chance of registering voting''qualifications at the head offices.

At a meeting of tie Hamilton School. Committee it was decided to vote for ,Miv A« Holland and Mr. C. A. de Lautour for seats, on the Education Board.

Our own correspondent informs us thairthe Hyde School Committee have voted for Messrs J. Laverty, C. A. de Lautour, A. Eolland, H, Bastings, W. A. YouDg, John Mackenzie. John Mouat, and William Elder in the Board election.

Two very interesling essays have lately been given in the Ark of Safety Lodge, lOQ-T, by Bros. J. Hobbs and J. M'Cosh Smith, on " The teachings of our Order," and " Gleanings 01 Good Templary at Home." Both brothers received deserving and hearty votes ■of thanks.

In another column is advertised a pro" for a Flour Mill Company. A mill ha s been long needed, and, judging by the influential list of Provisional Directors, we may say that it is now accomplished. A guarantee is given to landholders of sufficient strength -to induce them to put in fair crops of wheat for the next year's milling.

It seems a pity that, just when at last the Waikouaiti County Council has agreed to pay half the cartage of bridge material from Dun■edin to be supplied to both Counties free for the Taieri river site at Hyde, the Government should have found another purpose for said material. Iron is best struck when hot, so are gifts at the hand of a friend. Another effort must be made, for this dangerous river must be bridged. The plans for the Hyde Court House are upon which teuders are to be sent in for the building. It is to be feared that tob little time has been given to builders. All chance of loeal builders competing is pretty well knocked on the head. We much fear that the Dunedin tenders will be too high, thus ? again burking the speedy completion of a very necessary work. Commend us to our Colonial Architect's office for ways and means •of how not to do it!

Our Hyde correspondent writes :—"The crops are pretty well all gathered, and well on towards being stacked. The yield of oats is very fair indeed—clean and of good sample. "Wheat, especially that grown by Messrs. Laverty and John Dowling, is of the primest order. Dowling's wheat would give the largest bushelage to the acre, but Laverty's 13 the best milling kink, so competent judges say. A specimen of Laverty's wheat crop was on show at Palmerston lately, and the opinion of all the experts in the valley is that there was ncae grown better in their neighborhood, and very little comparable with it. This speaks volumes for the agri■cultural wealth and fertility of Hyde and the Strathtaieri, and should be widely known..Gold in payable quantity has been struck by v Campbell and party on the boundary of Holverson's claim on Wheelbarrow Spur across the Taieri. The ground is very wet. There is a depth of eight feet of gold-produc-ing drift. Holverson, off the bottom of his prospecting shan't'obtained five ounces and half a pennyweight of gold some four months ago I shall visit these claims next week, •and from personal observation make such notes as will convey a correct idea of their prospects and mode of working."

The quarterly degree-meeting of the Ark of Safety fiOdge, 1.0. G.T., will be held ou Thursday next. '. .

In another column will be found an announcement of a vnluable liniment, styled "Mustang Liniment." .Nothing .but a,sen.*e of the value of the specific woiifd induce our management to disfigure its columns with; the" horribly hkleou's, illustration of restored.' mas-. tari*3j and 6ther nriimals, under the charm of the agents are Messrs.' 'Kemptuornej" .. . . .-...■• '-• .- vi'.-5..-^ "\o w&;-: /','•"/.»—^»-———-■; " '■"' i' ''•' , - : '*' >• ; J