POLITICAL FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 13, 13 January 1893, Page 16

POLITICAL FOOTBALL.

E understand that two squads of political footballers are in course of preparation, and that the field of their operations will be as extensive as M ew Zealand. The football is to be the education question, and the people to be jockeyed are the Catholics. These are not giving satisfaction, it appears, to our leading politicians. They are too quiescent at present to serve the purposes of the wire pullers. A cry is badly wanted, and what more convenient and in every way suitable than the education question. Not that these gentry care » straw for either the Catholic claims or real education. Their only concern just now is a party triumph. This secured, the genuine interests of the country or of education are a matter of small moment. Taught by experience, how hollow is the cry about education, no matter on what party side it may be raised, Catholics are biding their time and faking stock of the situation with a view of evolving a policy foi t&emselves most likely to give aflecj to their views. Consequently they are not showing just fy?w, on the political horizon, and this is a source of embarrassment

and disappointment to those who never failed, and will, no doubt, never fail, to profit by their honesty and outspokenness. But Catholics have learned to be shy and watchful, and that their best policy is to pay off their enemies with their own coin. "We shall watch with great interest the tour of the political footballers, and scan with keen interest their by-play. No doubt the political football shall be vigorously plied in the field, but the players will so manage that it shall never reach a goal. But there will be scrummages, and exciting ones, in which there will be a great appearance of zeal and energy. Then will be the time for Catholic onlookers to join in the fun, and rush the ball home. There is an old saying, " Little said is easily mended." And our advice to Catholic electors is to watch and wait, say nothing, make no promises, and, if pressed to take sides in the political football match, to proclaim themselves as intending to vote for the best man. It is necessary for them to be greatly on their guard against political dodgers, who, whether we wish it or not, are certain to raise the education question for their own purposes. All remember how this was done at the late Bruce election, in which Catholics took no active part whatever. Yet, notwithstanding, one of the candidates and his friends plied the education football with unceasing vigour and unflagging perseverance. This should be an object lesson for us for all time. We all know what we Bhould do and what we are going to do. This should suffice for us, at present at all events, and we should carefully abstain from taking any active part for or against any candidate, Our interference would only be converted into the instrument with which to scourge us. Whereas our business is to whip, to scourge our political enemies and other schemers. And this is the policy which we energetically recommend to all who do us the favour of listening to our advice. Let the Conservatives and Labour party — both our uncompromising enemies — fight out this battle with their own forces. Let not Catholics be duped and befooled by these intensely selfish men, who would both use and abuse us, make tools of us if they could, and having done so, put their tongues in their cheeks and proclaim us fools. Let tw teach them that we have principles, and know how to defend them, and that we clearly see through their schemes, and are determined to respect ourselves.