Letters from Gath.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12800, 25 May 1914, Page 5

Letters from Gath.

(Translated by Professor Pangloss.) " Tell it not in Gath ; publish it not in the streets of Askelon !"—From a Book you should study. Ezra the Scribe to Rabbi Ben Adhem at Jerusalem. Gath, Yiar 2f.th. A.M. 5637. Dear Rabbi, —This week there is very little of interest to relate. There are a lot of little undercurrents moving and of these more will be heard later, but as yet things are indefinite. There is no excitement in purely local politics, nor do 1 expect any till after November next, because definite opinion on any subject until then is not considered desirable.

In party politics the candidate who is not ticketed by the party in whose interests he claims to be standing has addressed a meeting of professed supporters. But I regret to say that he has given no indication of his opinions on political subjects. He was not even drawn by a pointed reference to Bible-in-Sehools—that purely sectarian subject which is rivalling prohibition as a device for diverting attention from what should be the main issues in a political contest. When th? candidate has made up his mind, and voiced his political opinions I hope to be able to show you how they Trill affect the public welfare. By the way, the political game produces some peculiar logic and strange reasons for actions. It seems to be considered quite in accord with reason that if you are accused of doing a thing—which of course implies that It is something you would not or should

not do—you can throw your critics into confusion by doing that very thing. This is held to justify your dissension from the views of other members of your party.

As the game of party politics used to be played a man was expected to work with Lis party loyally, and acquiesce cheerfully in all the decisions of a majority. It was held that a man who did not was likely to do more damage to the party's interests than a declared opponent could do. Rut in Gath there are some who do not care for this, and you will notice that the Philistine idea of party organisation is peculiar, for some even believe that

a party becomes stronger the more it is split. To us this -\vould seem to give much bettor chance to the other side to defeat the party.

I can remember the time, Rabbi, when elections were fought purely on political principles, and when the franchise was conferred upon all adults it was i-'oped tliut the result would be tli it more keener attention would be giveu to the principles with which politics are really concerned. But the democracy is more affected by feeling than by reason, and all sorts of side issues are magnified in importance and overshadow the real issue. For appeals to reason the kissing of the kids has been substituted, and some candidates have developed into a line art the appeal to the emotional nature of woman.