The Dominion TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1908. THE OPPOSITION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 320, 6 October 1908, Page 6

The Dominion TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1908. THE OPPOSITION.

One—and not an insignificant—point oi difference between the Ministerial party and the Opposition is the greater enthusiasm of the former for banquets and junketings of various kinds. It is not often that Mr. Massey presides over a gathering like that arranged by the Opposition as a farewell to those members of the party who, for various private reasons, will not offer themselves for reelection this year. The Opposition treats politics more Beriously than tho Ministerial party, because it realises tho gravity of the issues dependent upon the work of Parliament, and because there are so many points at which it must watch and criticise the policy of the Government. The guests at Saturday's dinner are all men whose retirement from politics will be a real loss to Parliament, which never stood more in need of good men than it does at present. Messrs. Aitken, Alison, Lethbridge, Lewis, and Reid are all • cultivated and thoughtful members, who are held in the highest esteem on both sides of the House, and who have done very good service to the country. They could be better praised, we know, than by the statement that they stood for common-sense in a House largely occupied by men who stand lor nothing in particular beyond giving a steady support to anything—foolish or otherwise— that the Government may propose. But it is sufficient praise to say that they were all representatives of the sanity and independence that arc still to be found in the House. Those who keep closely in touch with the proceedings of Parliament need not be told of the valuable work that has been performed, in tlje face of the most discouraging circumstances, by Mr. Massey and his party. At timoß they muet bavo felt that it was L nKfllnM to struggle agawut the joowara en-

throned on a public conscience demoralised by a dozen years of corrupt government. Many people outside Parliament must have felt that it would" be as well to let tho disease run its course, and to await until its own cure was worked by the present political system, the system which Mr. Massey called " inherently bad, and capable of manipulation leading to waste and extravagance." But that would have been to neglect the duty that the Opposition owes to the people whose votes were cast against the continuance of that system. With so decided a majority on the Ministerial benches, Mr. Massey might have been excuscd if he had effected nothing and had failed to chcck or to modify tho policy of the Government. He has achieved a great deal, nevertheless, and this not only because of his zealous attention to the business of criticism, but because ho has been sustained by the knowledge that he has had a great body of public opinion at his back. The Government's " back-down '' in connection with the Land Bill of 1906 is a signal example of what a small party can do that is determined to fight for its principles. To the Opposition also is due the growing disfavour with which the public looks upon the Government's financial administration. Nor is there the least doubt that tho Government, if it had been freo from the Opposition's persistent criticism, would have gone beyond all bounds in extravagance and waste. A weak-principled Opposition might have considered its duty performed if it merely placed on record its protest against whatsoever it disapproved. Such a policy would not only have left the Government completely free to act as it chose, but it would have left without, a focus and a rallying-point the forces in the country opposed to Socialism, corruption, and financial improvidence. Yet tho temptations to adopt such a policy must have been strong. The circumstances and the issue of tho general election of 1905 were sufficient to make niany a man despair of effecting anything against the condition of the public conscience then revealed. The very personnel of the Ministerial.party at the present time would shake the optimism of the most ardent lover of his country. The attitude csi the bulk of that party towards their work, would afflict tho most ardent democrat with doubts respecting his creed. Despite such" discouraging portents Mr. I'lassey has fought sturdily and not unsuccessfully, and the country is materially in his debt.

The usefulness of the. Opposition can best be realised by a consideration of what would have occurrcd had the Opposition benches been occupied by silent objectors to the Government's misdeeds. Mr. Aitken was but stating tho fact when ho said that " neither logic nor argument availed in Parliament when, the leader of tho dominant party made up his mind that a Bill must be put through." The Government could certainly pass into law anything it choso, in defiance of Me. Massey or anybody else, but it cannot hide its doings from the country. Let Sir Joseph Ward express his unalterable determination to get a Bill through; and ho will find a majority ready to put it through without reading it—almost without caring what its provisions are. The current session has afforded more than one example of this extraordinary and unhealthy state of affairs. More than once wo have seen Government supporters ready to sacrifice even their own reputations to assist their leader. We do not speak of their principles—they have apparently but one principle: to keep in favour with their lord. Wanting the active criticism of the Opposition, tho country would have been in ignorance of many of these things, and wholly under the Ministerial thumb. The will "of Cabinet would have been absolutely law. Politics would merely have been the preying of a party on the public purse. The present situation is ill enough, but it would have been worse had the Opposition, against very heavy odds, failed to hold the fort for tho reform that is sure to come in time. It may be that the country will not return to its senses until bad times arc with us, but tho growing feeling in favour of reform is a tribute to the band of men who have fought so long ancl so courageously against the evil tendencies which have crept into our public life.