THE New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1893.

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9841, 23 February 1893, Page 2

THE New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY).

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1893.

iv,ih \cJiich are incorporated the Wellington Independent, established 1845, and the New Zealander,

The protest of the Liberals of Midlothian is probably very much more significant than it appears to be. Naturally people are apt to imagine, at the first blush of the thing, that the Liberals of Midlothian have begun to rebel. But a very little thought is enough to dispel that idea. The Liberals elected Mr Gladstone to carry Home Rule for Ireland. That was the first article in his programme during the last electoral campaign as it was in the campaign of 1886. Not one jot had the veteran statesman abated in the meantime of his energetic persistency. Not a word would he hear for the postponement of Home Rule to more convenient season. Every man in Midlothian understood perfectly well that Mr Gladstone had sacrificed power to Horae Rule, and that he would not return to power without it. There can be no doubt therefore that the Liberals of Midlothian elected MrGladstone primarily for Home Rule. Since then nothing has happened except the introduction of a Home Rule Bill, in every way better and in all possible degrees more suitable than the Bill whose defeat in 1886 did not deprive the Liberal leader of his Midlothian following. But that is not a reason for protest, for heat, for objection. On the contrary it should make the Midlothian Liberals all the stronger in their adherence to theirleader. For which reason we regard the cable message descriptive of theirattitude as incomplete. These people have, according to the message, asked for Scottish Home Rule, and protested against the retention of Irish members at Westminster. If that were all it would be simple nonsense. The men who want a separate Legislature for Scotland are not likely to make a protest, the logical consequence of which must be the absence of Scottish members from Westminster. We take it that the Midlothian Liberals have asked for Scottish Home Rule, and protested that, until they get it, they cannot submit to have Irish members at Westminster. That is a logical attitude, which every Imperialist will understand at once. It is, moreover, very significant. It proves conclusively that the Scottish Liberals recognise the Home Rule Bill of 1893 as the first step in the Federation of the United Kingdom, which is in time to be the basis for the Federation of the Empire. • That is the view we took of the florae Rule Bill when its provisions reached us. We then predicted that the United Kingdom would regard the Bill in that light. The action of the Scottish Liberals proves that a beginning has been made towards the fulfilment of that prediction. The whole of Scotland will, we feel sure, presently show its, hand, and Wales will follow without unnecessary 'delay, and their conclusion is one which England will not be able to resist. In being asked to accept Irish Home Rule the Uuiteil Kingdom is asked, virtually, to accept a return (for local affairs) to the Hep'archy for the sake of consolidating the mighty Empire which baa in eleven centuries grown out of the Heptarchy. That is being recog nised, and tho recognition will be marked in history as the most momentous decision ever come to by the English people.

The principal thing about Mr Samuel’s letter to a Taranaki newspaper about the New Plymouth Harbour Board is that gentleman’s advice to his fellow townsmen and their friends of the country. It is to put their hands in their pockets and pay whatever may be necessary to enable tho repairs to be effected with the prison labour promised by the Government. This Is what they are now doing. While the hat is going round, wo may be pardoned for referring with satisfaction to the appearance (n Taranaki of such a fine spirit of self-reliance. When there is more of that kind of thing ip Taranaki there will bo less waste of money oyer breakwaters and less calling upon the Colony to supply. As for the breakwater possessed by Taranaki, it undoubtedly U a public convenience, and a valuable source of revenue to the railways. Therefore, though by no means what was expected when the mad scheme of its construction was adopted, the breakwater is entitled to some aid from the Colony. It was a good thing to send the dredger up to out the channel through the sandbank which obstructed tho opening. It is, we are informed on good authority, quite a mistake to suppose that this channel is silting up again. Oil the contrary there seems good reason to believe that the great difficulty has been at last solved, and a Stop put to the drifting sand once for all. Under the circumstances the loan of tho prison labour tor the repairs of the breakwater is a distinct public advantage. The Government has promised to give engineering advice and supervision besides, and if Taranaki gets up a subscrip' tion for the balance of requirements, there will be nothing left to desire—except one, of course. The flaw in the breakwater, which is now the talk of the district, has been known for a long tlmo to a select few, and kept dark from the interested many. The question arises, nre there any more known flaws 1 That question ean only be settle! by a thorough examination and overhaul.

It is satisfactory that the Wellington Prohibition League has unreservedly accepted the position. After the judgment of the Court of Appeal they have made up their mind that the ditect vote is the only thing for their case, and they have determined to agitate for it. Their proceedings on Tuesday night show us the nature of the struggle into which they are preparing to plunge the Colony. Their plan is a block vote of the Prohibitionists at every election, and the reinforcement of that block vote by Female Franchise. That plan they propose to carry out by agreeing to make each ten converts to their cause, and concerting their action all over New Zealand, and organising a preaching crusade. They know that woman will be a new power on the platform, and they intend to bring her there before she gets the Franchise. As Mrs Lodge said, 1 If women are announced to speak, the men will be sure to come along.’ From all of which we gather that there is a deal of human nature in the agitation of the Prohibitionists, and that they are a wonderful people. More than that we need not say on the occasion of the first peep into the troubled future which they have given us. The 'lmportant thing is that they have accepted the {situation, and are preparing for the fray.