EDITORIAL NOTES AND COMMENTS

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXI, Issue 8960, 8 December 1905, Page 1

EDITORIAL NOTES AND COMMENTS

While Xew Zealanders are, or may be, prosperous and liappy—whilst there is, at all events, as much" prosperity and happiness as may be expected where the weaknesses and sufferings of humanity stand in the way—naturally enough there is no desire to change the colony's management from Liberal to Conservative. These newspapers which aTe opposed to the present Administration pretend tliat the existing prosperity lias been the chief factor in the retention of the Government in power. We do not dispute that, if the colony lnd been unpiospirrons, a change would probably have iieen effected in the quest for a better condition of affairs. But it is not just, or generous to deny to the Government, or tiie ruling party, the credit of having helped the colony' on the Toad to an exceptional prosperity. Why do oth.T countries envy us? Is it not because legislation has made and is making the conditions of life wore tolerable than they are elsewhere? If trade had been depressed, money sea ice. employment hard to get, would not the election cry raised by the Government's enemies liave been: We must rid ourselves of men who have so mismanaged the colony's affairs as to produce go mucin national disaster,"' As it liapper.s, Xew Zealand's prosperity is so conspicuous that ii forced itself upon the recognition of all political parties, and other excuses were urged why the Government should be dismissed, and the Liberal sentiments of ihe colony placed at the mercy of political aliens. Kven now, when the Tories are counting their dead and holding tangis over the remains of their fallen, echoes of these paltry excuses are heard. One would have thought that those large newspapers whose advocacy has again been disregarded by the people in a most pronounced manner, would have maintained a discreet silence at such n time as this. Isut one of our worthy .Metropolitan contemporaries, in contemplating the situation, says:—"We had hoped that the public, having had nearly 15 years' experience of the present Administration, would have realised that it has really outlived its usefulness, and that it would" have been in the interests of the colony to effect a change." Now, this is just a. perpetuation of the weakest declamation. Does our contemporary not Tealiso that it is because colonists have had 15 years' experience of the Scddon Government that they are not willing to make a change. Besides, if the enjoyment of trust and appreciation for a period of 15 years is a L'ood reason for a change, then the majority of our contcmi>orary's subscribers ought to take some other paper. If the Tories be wise they will accept the inevitable. They cannot take root in New Zealand. Repeated rebuffs ought to demonstrate this to the dullest intelligence. Xot even all the forces of money and pretentious journalism, augmented by a torrent of cunninir suggestion, can wean the people from their legitimate allegiance. They wish tli.it certain thinas should be accomplished, and they, naturally enough, place their trust in those who are able and willing to consummate that wish. It matters not how respectable, how clever, how socially acceptable a politician may be, if he is op]H>sed to the dearest interests of the people, he is a political snare, and should he avoided as a danger to the commonweal. A politician who bases his claims to public confidence on unfounded charges of the perfidy of others should be avoided. Xo matter what he may be in other respects, he lacks the greatest essential to public usefulness. Tin's is obviously the view 'which has inlluenced the electors in the contest of parties which is just. over. Itis useless to mourn over the defeat of men who have not any of those virtues witlwut which th<> most brilliant talents are useless. It is not smartness, or social position, that is wanted in Parliament, but principles and principle.