LIBERAL ASSOOIATION "BANG,"

Thames Advertiser, Volume XIII, Issue 3569, 23 March 1880, Page 3

LIBERAL ASSOOIATION "BANG,"

(To the Editor of the Thames Advertiser.) Sib,-We may gather from the remarks of "Bang" that ho is incapable of appreciating, or even understanding, the principles which governed the Thamos Liberal Association in the action it has taken relative to the report of the Committee of the House of Representatives on the Ghmtchurch election. Like Esau i 111 • I s . °? 0 . ose w b° are willing lo sell his birthright for the meanest mess ot potage. Form a footpath leading to his dwelling, and it is a matter of indifference to him whether the constitutional rights of the people of this colony are invaded and wrested from them. Such writers teach subservience to " the powers - that be. They belong to tho class that cling to the coat-tails of people i n office, and are, unconsciously perhaps, enemies of freedom. That "Bang" i s 0 f this order his own words compel me to believe. He says: "In view of our' own local wants, the Thames Liberal Association may, with becoming prudence, leave such a matter with those immediately interested. We havo enemies and enough to spare without seeking to comport (?) a trfesh election for Cliristchurch, for whatever the result it would increase the nun* ber of our opponents and do injury to Ihe district. Unable to comprehend that, members of the Association may consider he preservation of the constitution of mguer importance than the construction ot a looal culvert, he affects, in a few obscure sentences, to define the motives which induced them to consider the queß tion, and tells us that "they care not a rap for the disfranchised (!) in Christchurch City, but are hunting up Parliamentary precedents to support a oase against the legality of Mr Kicbardsou'g seat m the House. That, and its oontiagent a ter consequences, are the motives," &c. That, I presume, refers to the case he supposes, but how in tho name ot common sense tho "contingent after consequenoes' could have anything to do ' with the motives I cannot understand, even supposing he were right as to the case. It fortunately happens that the r Liberal Association numbers among its members many not likely to become converts to the pernioious teachings of Bang, who are determined to resist any encroachment, however slight, upoa the constitutional privileges of the people. 1 hey believe that the electors of Christchurch were disfranchised illegally and unconstitutionally, that the wrong'done, should be remedied in the next session of; ■Parliament, and that the record of, the proceedings of the Committee should be erased from the journals of the House, yen had tho people of Ohristchurcll aken no action in the matter, it would have beon the duty of the Association, • and of all who desire to preserve out constitutional rights, to have done so; but, to their honour be it recorded, they resent the injustice done them, and are deter-"' • mmed to obtain justice. They may love the loaves and fishes, they may " have cut their eye teeth," and secured " the lion's share of loans and revenue," but they ' belong not to the family of Esau. To the Thames Liberal Association I would • say: " becoming prudence" on your part means slavish submission. You aro deeply and vitally concerned in the settlement of this question, and it were better even to increase the number of your opponents, <%• and do ill to the district, rather than surrender a vestige of your political rights. V If, however, you are\disposed lo : accept the advice of such; as|-" Bang;",'change the name of i(: * the "Thames Local consider only how much :f fbu-%n obtain : ! i by going hat; in hand to eaoh Minister who presents himself, humble-yourself.., before him, obtain money,''expenditure . and with it infamy/.and'. thus shorn of - '' evory trace of independence of character, fitjourselves.for the ranks of those whose hfic'ksare onlyifit. for the yoke of dasnot* ism ~I am,'Sc.-, ; - W.O^,,