WHO ARE THE LIBERALS ?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11814, 1 June 1893, Page 2

WHO ARE THE LIBERALS ?

Captain Kuasell's speech stamps him as all his speeches hare done for three years past, as tho most capable man on tha Opposition side of the House. It has lonp; been apparent that he ought to be leading the party which elected Mr Eolle3ton to the command two years ago and has been obeying nobody in particular era since. Captain Russell, had ho been tho elected leader, as he ought to have bson, would have exacfcod the obedience duo to a leader. He would, moreover, have made his party help tlw Govornment to do some useful work. His speech at Hastings is an index of his character. Ke hits straight and hard, as becomes a pronounced Oppositionist; he praised what he thought ought to praised on the other side, as became one holding responsibility as the loader of a party; and he said several very wiso and true things. For instance ho said a good deal about strikes in a small compass, and he dro<v the proper model, viz , that the practice of compnlsory education should ba general, lhat conclusion has 1 just been sufficiently demonstrated by the gaunt misery of Hull. Had thero boen such a measure in Groat Britain there would nod ba eight mon looking nbout the Humber city for every single vacancy. There ought to bo Buah a measure on our Statute Book. If Captain Russell were loader of tha Opposition, we believe that before the close of the coming session there would bo." 'I'he above paragraph is from the Nbw Zealand Times. It serves to show that if Mr Caison is Liberal in his ideas, so is at least one ef the leading members of the party he supports, and yet our local po.iticians on the othar side try ts persuade those who aro silly enough to listan that becauso Mr Carson i 3 Liberal, thereforehe cannot bo in favour of tha policy of the Opposition. Now that tho ministerial papor has corrected the fake impression, furoly tho pirty in Wanganui will let that matter drop. If Captain Eu.sel is suoh a good Liibjral, and nt the same tini9 Iho moot fitting man to leid the Opposition,does it not follow that the Opposition must bo for the great part Liberal aUo ? If not, how could they follow Captain Russell.