THE GENIUS OF LIBERALISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19198, 14 June 1924, Page 8

THE GENIUS OF LIBERALISM.

There may be some ground of complaint that the pleasantries occasionally incident to the great Liberal campaign are insufficiently broadcasted throughout the dominion. The seekers after political instruction and entertainment should not be' stinted of any small pabulum of that kind which may be easily available. Some remarks which we made yesterday in reference to a meeting at Ashburton addressed by those valiant “stump” campaigners, the members for Huruuui and Oamaru, may suitably be supplemented to some extent in the light of fuller information. For instance, we feel bound in duty to help in circulating Mr Macpberson’s luminous and inspiring dictum that “the day was not far distant*when the genius in the Liberal Party'would surprise the whole country with their brilliant politics.” The arrival of that hitherto unanticipated day will bo awaited with a quiet patience which may be subjected ,to some degree of trial. If the expectant interest should be associated with tinges of scepticism or incredulity, it must be borne in mind that there seems to be no conclusive reason why “the genius in the Liberal Party” should . not have exercised its (or should we say “his”?) brilliant influence during the last two or three weeks, when a gallant but. forlorn campaign has obviously been in sore need of wonder-working manifestations. Surely at Ashburton—where the gathering was “vexy small,” and the Mayor, who presided, “said he was sorry there was not a greater attendance, and he felt he must apologise to the visitors on that account”—a coruscating orator of genius would have been peculiarly welcome and timely. The scanty audience, to say nothing ■•of “listeuers-iu” farther afield, had at least a right to look for some convincing illustration of Mr Macpherson’s statement that “all the people should grasp firmly the real meaning of Liberalism.” In point of fact, the member for Oamaru vouchsafed little beyond such barren shibboleths as these: “Vested interests ran the country to-day. If we had a Government with any initiative, we would have been well ahead now. The Government was stagnant, and New Zealand was drifting from the sound country of a few years ago. The Government’s interests all along were in favour of on© particular class. He was there to help to revitalise the people in favour of the progressive Liberal platform.” Unfortunately, no amount of flogging will serve to revitalise a dead horse. Mr Forbes was scarcely more illuminating' than his fellow-pilgrim. He, too, indulged in fallacious claptrap about “the party of vested interests.” He, too, expressed a confident hope that “the party of liberty” would “in time” secure public approval of its policy, whatever that may be. He, too, failed to advance any cogent reason for the faith that xs in him,—failed even to show a* shadow of ground for the claim that present-day Liberalism .is conspicuously imbued with the love of liberty. The “genius in the Liberal Party” may put tn an appearance in brilliant guise “in time”; but why such weary deferment of wistful hope and such mysterious tarrying ?