THE NEW EVANGEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9096, 3 July 1888, Page 6

THE NEW EVANGEL.

I.—INTRODUCTION.

" False ideas may achieve a more or leas extended, a more or less durable successthey can never extirpate their Godlike assailants. Truth is patientit does not easily surrender its hold on society— never abandons its purposeit even exercises some sway over that region where error reigns most despotically."—Guizot, Representative Government, 1852 Ed., p. 68.

Believing, as I do—

1. That the Parliament is chaos;

2. That Parliament (1) unfortunately speaks what the mind of the people is (2) —not what it should be, and therefore must be chaos;

3. That Demos is too selfish, busy, and worried to philosophize, and that those who philosophize care not to busy and worry themselves about ungrateful Demos ; 4. That, therefore, specious demagogues (3) play upon the moiUonniere tendency of the bourgeoisie (4), who have, I fear, "an instinctive antipathy for calm and moderate men, for men who shun extremes, and who render reasons

5. That the theory that vox popvli is vox Dei is nothing but a foolish fiction ; that the voice of the people may be the voice of power, but is certainly not of wisdom ; that the role of Samson, as a temple-pillar breaker, is being ruinously re-enacted, involving all in the crash ; and, 6. That., consequently, Government here Is a disastrous farce, with the near prospect of its becoming a dreadful fiasco, if there be not soon a radical upturn of regime. I say, believing all this, I again (5) take up my pen to preach—as my leisure from time to time will allow—A New Gospelthe only gospel in which political salvation for us can be found gospel in which Freetrade and Protection, borrowing and increased taxation, have no place. But in which no borrowing, a sweeping reduction of taxation, the development of agricultural and mineral resources, and a radical reform of the Constitution and of our institutions, —stand prominent. Given A New Gospel, and a rigid determination on the part of electors that it be carried out, a Saviour will arise. But electors must indeed be idiots if they think that their present representatives (with rare exceptions) know how to, oi will, restore prosperity to the colony. For I fear that a prevailing under - current idea that they (with rare exceptions) are ignorant and contemptible too much truth in —ignorant, because they evidently have no first-principle knowledge, or grasp, of what constitutes national happiness or misery (6), but deal only in an ad captandum manner with measures as they arise; —contemptible, because instead of doing what they know to be right and best in the interests of the colony, their sole efforts are to toady to the public opinion of the hour public opinion, alas ! here the most fickle guide, the most teacherous friend, the most incompetent Mentor, now so utterly astray that it, above all other things, presents the most pressing dangers of public disaster. It is not only true that " large bodies are more likely to err than individuals (7) but there is one fact that stands prominently forth—our utter incompetence to govern ourselves, as shown in ignorance, or ignoring, of the first principles of political economy (i.e., ignorance or ignoring of what promotes national happiness and misery), and in falseness to the backbone. Indeed, the real remedy for the present situation is a competent dictator ; but, as I fear, there is no chance of instilling common sense to that extent, I do not pursue the subject. Let me, however, record my conviction that the Ministry, whilst weak in respect of two or three of its members, is as strong a combination as can be formed from the present Houses; although I venture to predict its near downfall (and reconstruction) from want of internal sympathetic accord. Therefore, my remarks must not be construed as pointed at the Ministry. For the Cabinet but echoes the House, and the House the foolish colony. (2) Moreover, we must not necessarily expect wisdom from any Government; because " Government, as government, can bring nothing but the influence of hopes and fears to support its doctrines. It carries on controversy, not with reasons, but with threats and bribes. If it employs reasons, it does so not in virtue of any power which belongs to it as a government." (8) Alas ! how truly it has been said that the English-speaking peoples consist mostly of fools : and how wisely the greatest of living litterateurs—Russell Lowell—.woke recently in his noble address on Independent in Politics," that " the chief duty of a nation is to produce great men, for without them its history is but the annals of ants and of bees."

Of course, I am aware that mine will but be considered as " the voice" (and probably a very foolish voice) "of one crying in the wildernessand that, even if doubt be aroused by the cry, " there is unfortunately a long twilight between the time when a god is first suspected to be an idol, and his final overthrow."

But, nevertheless, as I feel that " THE NEW EVANGEL" must sooner or later be preached, and that it is true and as I know that truth must eventually prevail— I propose, as my leisure from time to time permits, to promulgate— New Gospel. And in order, first, to get rid of a formidable side-issue, my first article will be to evidence —

That Parliamentary Fretfrade-Protection wrangling here is the wildest nonstme. R. Laishley, LL.D., Arc.

(1) It is curious to remember that th« derivation of the word is neither purler, mens, nor parler, mentir.

(2) See Herbert Spencer's powerful letter to the Times, 1884, when requested to be a candidate for a seat in the House of Commons. Refer to Palmer's index to the 'limes. For the purpose of avoiding .side issues, 1 assume that the present electoral system elicits the will of the people, although I have grave doubts about it. (3) Those curious can ascertain the meaning of that apparently anomalous term "Tory Democracy" by referring to Lord K. Churchill's recent speech at Iliimiujihaiu. See Pall Mall Budget, April 12, 1888. (4) " And they" (slaves) "and the Door free citizens everywhere were to a nun on the side which was considered, and was called, the side of the people, and was, in fact, the side of despotism."J. A. Fronde in " Cresar "—Longman's, 188t>, p 9. (5) Vide " The Political Situation " in the NEW Zealand Herald of 16th September, 1887. (6) Truly " J'wivoir sans savoir est fort dangtreux."

(7) For the reasons why, see Lord Macanlay's Essays, 1885 Ed., p. 75. Had I thought it would have had the slightest chance of adoption, I should have suggested recently for the I''ree Library (as I mentioned in my letter to the Mayor) a Hoard—chosen on its merits—of five, with a quorum of three, not a mixed Hoard of thirteen.

(o) For illustrations, see Lord Mawulay's Essays, 885 Ed., p. 112.