GERMAN COLONISTS

West Coast Times, Issue 105335, 20 July 1897, Page 4

GERMAN COLONISTS

(To the Editor.) 3ir, — Our fellow colonists from the "Fatherland," and indeed of other nationalities, ought really to feel proud of the prominence the Premier cf this Colony (in future to be known as the Right Honorable Richard John Seddon, D.C.L., &c, &c, &c.,) is giving them at the present time, and the persistency with which he is making his demands respecting them. His first public denunciations of foreign competition appear to have been made in Melbourne, whilst he was on his " Australian " holiday tour with his wife and family. He specially directed his animus towards Germans, in the Trades Hall, in that city — possibly with the view of getting the applause of his hearers—the great leaders of Democracy and its allied Trade Unions. The Melbourne Argus took him severely to cask for arousing a spirit of national hostility in a country with which he was in no way politically associated, and exposed the hypocrisy of his utterances and the hollow skam of his contentions. Now, we find this same individual, this same Right Honorable gentleman delivering himself once more against foreigners in London, (whilst on another holiday trip at public expense) and with all the bluster and bounce which has ever been his only stock in trade during his long professional political career. He, forsooth, to indicate to the great Powers their duty in respect to trade relations with each other. What were his trade relations with his fellow colonists may here well be asked ? We read in recent cablegrams that "at a meeting of the Premiers it was unania ously resolved to demand that the British Government should denounce the Belgium and German treaties." In the above resolution there is the true stamp of Seddonism once more. The " lobbying," the " whipping-up," and the selfconceit of this political tyrant, who has, in his cowardice, avoided all reference to the subject, whilst stumping New Zealand to secure support at the public expense. « It would be interesting to know in what manner our German friende and colonists have trodden on this great man's toes that they have brought upon themselves this bitter antagonism, if not hatred. The only satisfaction is that he does not voice the sentiment of the people of other nationalities who are living in amity with them, and wfco recognise the sterling qualities that distinguish so many of them socially, commercially, and in fact politically ; whilst many occupy distinguished public positions with very great credit indeed, It is deplorable, if not humiliating, for the inhabitants of this favored land to be the silent witnesses of such proceedings, and not to raise a voice in opposition thereto. I venture to think that from one end of New Zealand to the other that the Right Honorable Eichard John Seddon, D.C.L., &c, &c, &c, will receive but little sympathy, or applause, in his spiteful and scandalous crusade against our German and other foreign colonists. But such is the man, to those who know him, and such are his tactics. I am, &c, Cambria.