THE OLD ISSUE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXIII, Issue 275, 6 December 1899, Page 3

THE OLD ISSUE.

•' SUFFER NOT THIS KING." APPEAL BY RUDYAKD KIPLING. The appended poem by Rudyard Kipling might bo applied to the New Zealand electicns as a warning against the return of Seddonism to power :— All we have of freedom— all we u,<e or know— This onr fathers bought for us, long and long ago. Ancient Kiglit unnoticed as the breath we draw — Leave to livo by no man's leave, underneath the Law. Lance and torch and tumult, steel and grey jjoose wing Wrenched it, mcli and ell and nil, slowly from the King. Till our fat heid. 'stablished, after bloody years, How our King id one with us, first among his peers. So they bought us freedom— not at little Coat— Whereforo must we watch the King, lest our gain be lost. Over all things certain, this is sure inindeed — Suffer not the old King ; for »c know the bn-ed ! Give no uar to bondsmen bidding us endurv, Whining " He is weak and far" crying 1 " Time shall cure." (Time himself is witness, till the battle joins Deeper xtrikes the rottenness in the people's loin*.) (Jive no heed to bomUmcn masking war with peace. Suffer not the old King here or overseas ! They that beg us barter, — wait l>i* yielding mood — Pledge tho years we hold i|i trust— pawn our brother's blood. How.-4o great thUcliynour, whatso'ur their claim. Suffer not the old King imd.-r any name '. Here is naught iinproven— here is nought to learn. It is written what shall fall, if the King return. HKKHALL MAItK UVSI liol.viib ; IJUESTIONK whence we camk, Set his ouabdh about us, all in Freedom's NAME. Ho shall take his tribute, toll of all our ware. He ahall change our gold for arms— arras we may not Dear. Be shall break his Judges if they crosi Ms teord: Ho shall rule above tho Law callin" on theLwL

He shall heed our whispers, for the night sliall bring Watchers' kkath our windows lkst we mock the kino. Hate and all divisions ; hosts of hurrying spies, Money poured in secret, carrion brooding flies. Strangers of his council, hirelings of his pay, These shall deal our Justice : sell— deny — delay. Wo shall drink dishonour, we shall oat abuse For tho Land we look to— for the Tongue v/e use. We shall tako our station, dirt beneath his feet, While his hired captains jeer us in the street. Cruel in tho shadow, crafty in the tain, Far beyond his borders shall his teaching run. Sloven, sullen, savage, secret, uncontrolled— Laying on a new land evil of the old ; Long-forgotten bondage, dwarfing heart and brain — All our fathers died to loose he shall bind again. Hero is naught at venture' random nor untrue — Swings the wheel full circle, brims the cup anew. Here is naught unproven, here is nothing hid; Stop for step and word for word —so the old Kings did I Step by step and word for word : who is ruled may read. Suffer not the old Kings for wo know the breed — All the right they promise — all the wrong they bring. Stewards cf thy Judgment, suffer not this King! KUDYARD KIPLIXG.