LIBERALISM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5550, 11 January 1879, Page 2

LIBERALISM.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —When, in Heaven’s name, is all the rant, cant, and twaddle of our would-be constitutional reformers about Liberalism, Liberal principles, and a broad Liberal policy —to come to an end ? Surely the public appetite for suck poor kind of food must by this time be satiated. Wa are however, it appears, to be treated to a further dose of the same kind in the form of Liberal associations on some grand and comprehensive scale-! whatever that may mean or whatever its object may be. X am really beginning to wonder what we want, or what kind of constitution it is under which we are living. Because, from the persistency with which the necessity for radical reforms in the direction of increased liberty is trumpeted forth, an outsider, ignorant of the character of our Constitution might well imagine New Zealand to be one of the most down-trodden of countries, with its people writhing in the throes of despair under the heel of some monster tyrant. Instead of being what it is, a land of liberty and equality, unsurpassed it equalled in any part of the civilised world. When the highest powers of the State are open to those of the meanest birth, as are all the avenues of wealth and its concomitant power and influence to the most indigent. When every man can pursue whatever course of action he may think fit for the purpose of acquiring wealth, honor, or fame, —provided he does so in harmony with the laws, —which laws he as a member of the commonwealth has a voice in making. Yet liberalism is flaunted before us, as if it were something essential to our personal liberty, as if it possessed some magic power by which alone society is to be renovated, all wrongs righted, and present discords, and all jarring elements knocked into unison and concord.

If by the reign of liberalism I am to understand the overthrow of all narrow-sonled bigotry and mean selfishness, and the diffusion of noble and generous instincts displayed by wide sympathy and a disinterested course of action, over aiming at the public weal, irrespective of persons or parties, I then from my heart pray that liberal principles may triumph. But the preachers of the gospel of liberalism in this colony, so far as I can understand them, simply desire the formation and combination of a party to be seated on some hobby horse, having for its object the crushing or radio"- rough shod over all persons and principles opposed to their particular creed. No, thank you; we prefer retaining our independence and exercising for. ourselves our own legitimate rights to being puppets In the hands of party wire pullers.—l am, &c., One of the People.