"THE BITTER END."

Northern Advocate, 18 August 1919, Page 2

"THE BITTER END."

The term "the bitter end" Iβ reported to have been recently used by o political candidate. In any case there is no need for a thought of bitterness. The issues are too big - for any personal feeling , . It is the boumlen duty of every elector to endeavour to use his best brains to understand the unique position In the nation's life and to so adjust Mmslf as to do the rig-ht thing on polling day. The suggestion of 't-he bitter end" carries with it an implication of personal considerations and susceptabilitdes that are too tiny for the great occasion of the approaching election of members to the House of Representatives. There has been too much in the past of a disposition *o> vote for a, person because he was socially a 'jolly good fellow." Far be it from us to discount the value of good comradeship, but a well-meaning , man of great personal charm is not neces-

sarily the most fitted, to represent a constituency. 'Politics is not am am using game in which one works for a personal gain. it is, or should be, the application of the highest principles of human relationship to the complex concerns of the great human family, it is not a scramble for sup posed concessions and 'advantages iv a special district, but for such, wise prevision and enactment as shall benefit not only the particular district, nor even the whole country, but the whole world. For the politics of the par inn pump there is no room in the coming contest. It is the solemn duty of those who have the advantages of special knowledge to either come forward as candidates for parliamentary service or to assisit in the selection of such and work for their return. To stand by idly as a spectator is to be unworthy of the privileges of British eitizuship. It is to miss the opportunity of rich, social service. It is to. be outside the stimulating consciousness of having a share in the nation's evolutionary travail. For it iinust be« recognised that w are now at a most opportune period in the history of this country and (all psy-i chological circumstances are present, for a new era. The "something must be done" feeling must be brought to fruition in measures of reform that raise the tone of life for all, better arrange the distribution of nature's gifts, and more fraternally organise the .labour of each' individual. In this glorious enterprise, providing scope for every noble faculty, it would be a prostitution of man's inherent divinity for him, to be swamped by thoughts of personal preferences and interests. There can be m*> "bitter end" if the splendid spirit of an enlightened interest has full play. It is quite possible, land indeed certain, that the day-dreams of nianv personal egotists will not be materialised, and any bitterness will surely be "allotted to, and monopolised by, such opponents of the day of a better life for all. If each candidate and elector sets before himself the good of his country before personal advancement then the issue cannot but be good. Quite anaiturally, there will be errors of judgment, pet schemes will be fmatimited, and compromise will somewhiait (alter the appearance of many a proposal. But so long as the br&in is alert and the motive high, there can be no real failure. Allison reminds us that it is not in imortals to command success, but that a greater is possible —to-deserve it. And in the position, of meriting success, bitterness cannot live; for it is a pliant of the pestilential swamp, not the flower of the cultivated garden.