A NEW DEFINITION OF LIBERALISM.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1869, 10 February 1892, Page 4

A NEW DEFINITION OF LIBERALISM.

Thus oommences a leading article in a recent issue of the " Napier Telegraph," our only apology for inserting ifc being to show what a prominent Opposition (we prefer this word to Conservative as generally used at present) paper has to say on a point which is attracting considerable attention just now, viz., " "What is Liberalism?": — We are indebted to Mr Buick for a new definition of the term " Liberalism." Speaking at Eketahuna last Friday, he is reported to have dealt at length with the plan and principles of the National Liberal Association, funds fo*- which would be collected. He made it clear that, when the next election came round, the Liberal parcy would be in a position to contest any of the seats now held by the monied class. Thus we may conclude that, for political purposes, the inhabitants of New Zealand are divided into two classes — those who have nothing to lose, who are Liberals, and those who have something, who are Tories. "We have all along suspected that the term " Liberalism " meant nothing more in this colony, and merely served to express jealousy and hatred of everyone who by hard work, thrift, and enterprise, had reaped some reward for self-denial and labor.' This, perhaps, is the secret at the bottom of the fact that, at the last two elections, the individuals in receipt of charitable aid were accounted Liberals, and were credited with yoting in that interest. If then the penniless Liberals can find money to fight political battles with the avowed object of injuring the monied class, it might be as well to ascertain whether they cannot raise funds to support the indigent and poor. This is a hard and a cruel way of regarding this question, but it is forced upon public attention by the foolish utterances of young men of the Buick stamp whose political mission it is to set class against class.