WHAT THE RECENT ELECTIONS TEACH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9404, 10 January 1894, Page 6

WHAT THE RECENT ELECTIONS TEACH.

[IK TWO PARTS.]

mat est le ma!. C'eat la loi de Dieu." J i -rQttesnay dc Beavrtptirt.

PART I.

"Sugaring the sections" unfortunately, largely the secret of success in elections, as in The House. ;it ■"; •

Electors (especially in sections) are " fed from day to day upon honey, and lies."

: But the women, probably, are not yet fully alive to the hollowness of these baits ; nor to the fact that "a reforming age is always fertile of impostors;" just as, very likely, they are nob.yet keenly conscious of the political situation, nor. what their sex, on behalf of themselves, and their children, should specially demand; nor how, nor to what extent, theyas a distinct electoral class—have the power to insist upon their special demands being complied with; nor the particular class of men whom the colony supremely needs as members. Therefore, to draw inferences from the recent—the firstexorcise of the female vote—as indicative of what will probably be its true permanent trendis, somewhat, hazardous.

Notwithstanding these factors, however, The Woman's Franchise especially—She-who-must-be-obeyed—renders the study of the November elections a subject of significant, indeed of supreme, importance.

lb is, consequently, with great regret that I must admit that the first inference to be drawn from the recent polls is that the very large majority, of voters declared in favour of the . present Bastard • Liberal Government— a Government > with pronounced Socialistic, if nob Anarchical, tendencies. . '..,, ,

Such a declaration, however, must not be taken to mean all that ib appears to mean. For it must not be inferred that the very large majority of voters, so declaring, are in favour of the Socialistic tendencies of the Government. Thus, for instance, large numbers of the electors in the Middle Island were, probably, greatly, if not mainly, influenced by Midland Railway considerations.

Of course, The Woman's Franchise is, as yet, only in its infancy here. The wishes of the female mind, therefore, will, probably, be more plainly indicated as elections recur : that is, as women become more clearly conscious of the glamour of political honey, and political lies; and more keenly realise the urgency, and relative importance, of the public issues submitted ; and the special needs of themselves and their children ; and their powers ; and, particularly, as they become more distinctly aware that the country which is not governed by the men who combine the greatest honesty, ability, and knowledge, is badly governed. But, meantime (subject to the declaration in favour of Seddonism just mentioned), it is patent that the express tendency of the female vote is in favour of promoting the solid happiness of the Colony, by promoting the solid happiness of the individuals who compose the colony : and, as regards Seddonism, as soon as women realise how Socialism, and its High Priests, work, so soon will Bastard- Liberalism, and its Ministers, cease to be political forces here. Thus, a feature in the recent elections expressly tending to promote the solid happiness of the colony, and clearly traceable to Tha Woman's Franchise, is the very valuable, and marked pronouncement of the electors that (subject to Seddonism) Good Character, above everything, is the first requisite for a Public Man. For, alas ! alas ! how few men there are in New Zealand, apparently, who are both available to be members, and who are prepared to say, like Macaulay — " It is not necessary to my happiness that I should sit in Parliament; but it is necessary to my happiness that I should possess, in Parliament, or out of Parliament, the consciousness of having done what is right." Moreover, man, naturally, in public, as in private life, " is so inconsistent a creature that it is impossible to reason from his belief to his conduct, or from one part of his belief to another.". ;J..

Therefore, it behoves voters, in every way, to lessen the risks of members exhibiting such inconsistencies by taking every car? that only mon of good ropute are selected as representatives.

It would, of course, be invidious to point to special pronouncements, in respect of Good Character, at the recent election : but very obvious examples readily suggest themselves.

Indeed, it is said that there were instances where, notwithstanding the most ardent professions, by candidates, of Seddonism, including Bastard-Liberalism, and pronounced Socialism, if not Anarchism, the electors—and especially the womenelectorsunmistakeably preferred to consider personal unfitness as the supreme consideration.

This shows that it was decided— of course, rightly decided— it is requisite that even a Soddonite candidate must be known to be, at least, reasonably honestminded, before he is deemed fit to be a representative. For in a world where every man, Dumas tells us, is naturally a poltroon, no candidate can be expected to be anything more than comparatively honest. Such a decision, however,* is a distinct step towards Public Purity—towards changing the fashion of our public morale : and shows that the women perceive—what men in the Colony have not of late years realised —that to send any other class of members is to be flagrantly imposed upon by Barerelike scoundrels, and such minor rascals as shufflers, and trimmers. True there are men, such as Mr. Withy, in whom electors had every confidence as of good character, and who were otherwise suitable, in ability, knowledge, and wealth, but who were rejected tor very special reasons: such as holding peculiar views which were deemed dangerous. . But, in the absence of such very special reasons, there can be no doubt that good character was, by the women, distinctly preferred to ability, knowledge, or wealth. The requisite, therefore, of reputed Integrity Honesty .Of Purpose— is . a great lesson we learn from the first exercise of The Women's Franchise in New Zealand. And itjis thus delightfully probable, that as time rolls on, even more of the angels of the multitude will be doomed.

R. Laishlet. [To be concluded in to-morrow's issue.)