THE Wellington Independent. TUESDAY, 14th OCTOBER, 1862. POLITICAL MORALITY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1778, 14 October 1862, Page 3

THE Wellington Independent. TUESDAY, 14th OCTOBER, 1862. POLITICAL MORALITY.

We hail with heartfelt gratification the efforts which in every direction in the present age are being so earnestly and persistently made to inculcate broad views and a correct method of thought, on those great questions, which the spread of education, and the increased intelligence of every civilised people, aie so constantly forcing into prominence. Certainly much bas already been done to remove the mystery and Cimmerian darkness in which abstract subjects of grave import, as bearing on the every day duties of practical life, have in former days been enveloped. Books have multiplied to an extent almost miraculous heavy folios of costly price have been replaced by cheap and portable volumes; the brain pro duct of Adam Smith, Bentham, and Mill, has been placed within easy Teach of tbe poorest student ; and Literary Institutes, Mutual Improvement Societies, and Young Men's Christian Associations have multiplied in the land. With all those elaborate means and appliances to smooth the path to the acquisition of knowledge, it is to be questioned if the result attained be at all an adequate one- It is true an immense mass of facts are presented to the eyes of tbe members of such todies, and a terrible amount of previously " crammed,'' and therefore crude information, is at periodical intervals, dinned iuto their ears by paid or gratuitous lecturers ; but the impression thus produced is transient and evanescent, and the actual advance thereby made in real knowledge is but trifling. We bave after thought that the cause of all this is to be traced to the circumstance that in all those efforts for intellectual elevation, the reading pursued is too superficial, and the lectures are devoted too much to facts, and too little to principles. " Facts,— hard facts," Mr. Gradgrind observes, " are what I want;" but, nevertheless, kuowledge of tha special kind, though very valuable, is deprived of half its use, unless supplemented by an acquaintance with those great doctrines which have been laid down as the basis on which all other acquirements should rest, and which have been the fruits of the patient toil, and laborious investigation of the master minds of apast and present age. We have been led into those remarks by observing the report of a lecture by Major Richardson, on "Political Morality," delivered a few days ago to the Young Men's Christian Association" at Dunedin. The subject wascertainlyatryingoneforan amateur lecturer, and after perusing the seven columns of matter of which it consists, we frankly confess that the disquisition was both able and interesting, Political morality, wbat volumes could be written on such a theme, what profound theories could be advanced, and what telling illustrations could be drawn from the history of the past, and the passing events of the present. All this has been done by the hon. gentleman who had the task of addressing the young men of Otago, and well done litis it been too. Immense preparation, an elabor?te array of quotations, and considerable eloquence, were all brought to

bear on the topic, but we have been unable to find the slightest evidence of original thought or practical deduction throughout the whole address. We will, howerer, take up a few of the more prominent poiuis made, and on a future occasion may have a better opportuuity of doing justice to the topic. After stating us one of the maxims of Political Morality, that it should be founded on religion, and " that the code of the Gospel should he the ci de ;of the statesman," he proceeds to play sad havoc amongst the more venial offenders. On this topic he says — Among the venial offenders against political .morality, or more correctly speaking, political propriety, may be fairly reckoned that vastly disagreeable man, who is always ready at a moments notice, and with infinite zest, to talk against time, in order to serve a party purpose ; and that insufferable proser, who evidently considers that Parliaments meet for the simple purpose of hearing him speak. It would De difficult to say which is entitled to the belt for being the greatest nuisance. If they could read with other's eyes they would shrink within themselves, were it not that they are generally case-nardened against all external impressions. The reward of both is iuvariably the same, an empty House. Let either ot them but get on his legs, and you will find that an intimation has been universally received that the attendance of members is urgently required in some other room. On one occasion an amiable member of the House of Commons had been indulging himself in an eloquent harangue, until there was nothtng but empty benches around him, and suddenly asked, for the purpose of illustrating his argument, that the Riot Act might be read. Burke had long been agonizingly expecting tho conclusion of the harangue, and his patience being thoroughly exhausted, he started to his feet and exclaimed — " The Riot Act, my dear friend ! to what purpose? Don't you see that the mob in entirely dispersed already ?" There is also a somewhat peculiar disregard of the obligations of political morality, in what might be described as the " antipathy vote." A member has been enjoying the fumes of a mild cigarette in that abode of bliss, known in all English colonies as Bellamy's when he is suddenly summoned to ezercise his representative right of recording his vote, The subject which has been under debate- is unknown to liim, and he has not ! the faintest shadow of the arguments which have been urged on either side, but on entering the council chamber a rapid glance is sufficient to assure him that au honorable member, to whom he has a mortal antipathy, intends to vote with the " ayes," and, forthwith, with deliberate step and conscious dignity he enrols himself amongst the " noes." Closely allied to this specimen of a conscientious debater is the partiality voter. The absent member when summoned to the House by the ringing of the division bell, ascertains that his friend is with the " noes," and he follows in his wake, and is saved an endless amount of patient investigation and prosaic nonsense. The above quotations contain much that recent experience will bring home forcibly to the minds of many of our readers. Verily, we can call to remembrance amongst the members of our I Assembly excellent specimens of the insufferable proser," " the speaker against time," " the gentleman who gives the partiality vote," aud of " the antipathy voter too." One would think that the talented lecturer, who was himself lately a member of " the great runanga of lhe pakehas," was taking advantage of his recent relief from legislative functions to give vent to a little downright truth, which could not well be uttered within the sacred precincts of the House ; and certainly if his remarks are intended as a piece of satire nothing could be more telling. It is well to hold " the mirror up to nature," as has been down iv the present instance, it is well too, that an important topic should be so ably illustrated, but it would be better still had the subject been grasped on its real merits, and a few practical defunctious of sterling value, been pressed home for the consideration of the audience.