SEASONABLE SUBJECTS.

Waikato Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2628, 2 May 1904, Page 4

SEASONABLE SUBJECTS.

CORRUPTION IN POLITICS. Speaking of party government in America, Mr John A Hobson, M.A., said a curious feature that struck him as a visitor to that country was the deep and general distrust of officials, legislators, and all sorts of elected persons. That was to say, in this democratic republic, where the average man controlled, there was no evidence that the man, if elected, would perform their will and would govern, make laws and administer them in the impartial interests of the people. Party bias was so powerful in all departments of public life that there was not that confidence that ono would imagine. But still more striking was the changed attitudo of the average man towards the laws he had assisted in passing and endorsing. In America there was the slightest regard for law simply on the ground that ib was the law. If it pressed inconveniently upon any class or man it was quite commonly disregarded. It soon came home to the student of American politics that the people did nob govern, but only seemed to govern. As this was the year of the Presidential election in America, the lecturer proceeded to describe minutely the electoral machine and its corruptness. It looked as if the democracy of America were speedily to develop into what had been well described as government of the people by the boss and for the millionaire. One of the most remarkable prophecies in the world of politics was that of Abraham Lincoln, who 40 years ago dreaded and foresaw the day when the wealth of the country would be in the hands of a few and the Republic be thereby destroyed. Today behind the ' boss' stood another man, the millionaire ; and the interest that stood behind the party machine was that of making a profitable use of politics. A study of American politics showed that America was drifting away from democracy. There was a growth of aristocracy entrenched behind protection, militarism, and imperialism. If this tendency proceeded unchecked in the political life of America it meant the downfall of democracy, for there could be no ways of joining these two irreconcilable things in American life—democracy and empire ; and should America fail to restrain herself for the performance of her proper task they should witness the breakdown of this political experiment, the greatest political tragedy of history. But there was great power for good in America which would manifest itself in a swell of character and practical intelligence, seeking some new course because the old had failed. That intelligence would react upon the political institutions of the country. He based his belief in the future on his confidence in the average man, the sense, intelligence, courage, and character of the average man. These were the ingredients and the safeguards of democracy.