POLITICAL QUIETISM.

Otago Witness, Issue 878, 26 September 1868, Page 1

POLITICAL QUIETISM.

The apparent apathy in political matters displayed of late in Dunedin ; isno doubt very disgusting to ardent politicians. Public meetings and enthusiastic speeches would have been much to their taste, and the absence of these stimulants at a really important period in our political history must be hard to bear. Whatever opinions may be entertained by the majority of our citizens with repect to passing events, it is quite clear that they are in no hurry to give them expression. They would probably regard any attempt to rouse them into a state of excitement as a joke ; and the most fervid eloquence of which New Zealand can boast would be lost upon them. It is not long since Christchurch was the scene of a large and earnest assemblage of the people, and quite recently we heard that many hundreds of men had met together in Kelson. But the political earthquake which shook those capitals never reached Dunedin. And why? If the people, of Canterbury have reason to be alarmed at the prospect of another [Native war, have not the people of Ofcago aome reason for alarm ? If Nelson feels that her interests are imperilled by the policy of the present Government, is Otago without apprehension on that subject? These Provinces — the most flourishing in the Middle Island — have no antagonism of interests; and therefore there can be no great diversity of political sentiment among them. Then why is Otago Bilent ? Is the population of this Province indifferent to politics ? Is it prepared to accept any revolution that may come about ? Will it submit in patience to fresh taxation and national disasters, accompanied with bold encroachments on itsrevenue and its independence? Certainly these questions must be answered in the affirmative. For if the Province were animated by any strong' feeling on these matters, it would have taken the lead in opposition. It would not look on passively while other Provinces are exerting themselves ; it would not be silent while" they are pouring forth denunciations ; it would not subject itself to the ridiculous possibility of following tamely in' the rear, "when it ought to have marched proudly in the van. It would not throw away the prestige of its position as the leading Province of the Island. We are bound to conclude that Otago is quite sa isfied with matters as they are, and with matters as they are likely to be in the not distant future. It has no objection, we presume ; to an exchange of half the consolidated revenue for a capitation grant of fourteen shillings. It has no objection to a fresh application of the screw in the shape of taxes, rendered necessary by a disastrous and most unfortunate war. It has no objection, peradventure, to the abolition of its Provincial Government, and the substitution of a central system in its place. These of course are the natural inferences from the present political position of the Province. That they are so is rendered evident "by the line of action adopted by one or two of its representatives at Wellington. Wo do not know that the minority — that is, the ardent politicians of the Province — have any right to quarrel with the majority gfor the attitude they have chosen in this matter. The course adopted by the latter — if we may use such an expression in the case of utter passiveness — may seem to some discreditable and ruinous ; but that is mere matter of opinion. If the majority thought so, the probability is that they would be as energetic and as noisy as their more demonstrative brethren. It can hardly be supposed that large numbers of our settlers are either ignorant of their true interests or indifferent to them. Colonists are too shrewd and self-seeking to shut their eyes to considerations of that kind ; and moreover, they are by far too much addicted to .political excitament to overlook any legitimate opening for such diversions. The position of Otago in reference to politics presents a curious contrast to that of other Provinces. In Auckland, for example, a furious contest has lately raged among the people about a poll-tax imposed by the local authorities on behalf of the Hospital. Society has been agitated from week to week by this discussion. Lofty-minded people explored Constitutional History for arguments against the tax, ' while little- minded contented themselves with physical demonstrations and bluster. We are rather inclined to

think.. that if a poll tax were imposecbim this Province, the needful half-sovereigns would be produced without a murmur. Opposition would prqbably.be confined to holes and corners, and whatever grumbling's might, occasionally be' heard, the money would nevertheless be forthcoming. Indeed, there is a fair subject for speculation in the question as to haw much it would take to get up a spirit of excitement among our citizens.^ Could they be galvanised by any means'into action ? Is there any abstract discussion — not of strictly local interestA-in which they could be induced to take a^pctive part ? Whatever disappointment this passiveness may occasion in the minds of politicians, it is not without its recommendations in the eyes of an impartial observer. It may b« taken to indicate an amount of satisfaction with their material condition and their immediate prospects which is not always found even in colonies. It may be supposed to originate in some such feeling, occasioning an entire devotion of their energies to industrial and mercantile pursuits. It has always been noticed that times of plenty .and 1 well being are never times of great political excitement. Revolutions have rarely if ever taken place among well fed populations. A people contented withthe returnsof theirindustry are not aptto trouble theirheadsabout political matters. But when they, are ground down by taxation, when wages are low and employment is difficult to get, then they begin to talk politics and to criticise their rulers. If this is the true explanation of the apathy of our people at the present time, it is not an unsatisfactory one. It is no slight evidence of the prosperity of the Province, that while our neighbonrs are engaged in angry discussions about politics, we are content to allow the politics of the time to shape their own channel. A good- humoured assemblage laughing at the exertions of a stump orator may be a painful sight in the eyes of a politician, but it is a much less .painful one, in the eyes of a philosopher .than that of a bellowing and discontented mob, swayed to and fro by senseless declamations garnished with indiscriminate abuse.