LET THE SILENT SPEAK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 14 June 1909, Page 8

LET THE SILENT SPEAK.

■ Sir, —Lord Avebuxy says: "While anyone can heartfiose who. speak, the:great, art of a statesman is to hear those wiho are silent." ' At the informal meeting of Parliament Sir Joseph Ward '.listened to the doaSh-like. silence of his'minions, who "when Caesar :says dothis," performed their trick'in order to allow Sir Joseph to go Home and "rejoice in his triumph. 1, -On Wednesday the Prime Minis-, ter listened to those who speak. Five thousand citizens of, Wellington, in a petition, ap- ; proved liis action in offering a Dreadnought, or two to the Home Government. Now let our Prime Minister listen to the free, silent ones outside the walls of Parliament.: What', are they • thinking about his ultimatum;. "I won't go- Home .unless Parliament is'posV poned,' hurled at the rcembers of our free Parliament ? There are deep rumbling murmurs of an indignant peopio behind the few who protested against the subordination of Parliament to tho ..will of one man. These people are asking one another who-is this man that ,"doth Destride fiho narrow world like a Colossus," while our representatives, like "petty men, walk under his huge legs. ,, Aias, tho Dominion has fallen on evil days, for "when wont thoro by an ago" when "her wide walls enconipass'd but one man"? If Sir Joseph Word is a statesman, let hhn listen to those inarticulate murranrings, and h f k» that it is not the wish of the pooP' e «•« Parliament should be postponed at the will of one man. Even if there were no pressiGg reasons why the'legislative machino should immediately" proceed with th« public business, tho people of this country should omphatioally protest against the despotic action now going oti. But when wo considor the urgent and important reasons why ParLament should not postpone tho business of the country any longer, fton I say it is timo tho Bdont ones lifted up their voices and protested loudly,against tho proposal to subordinate the interests of the country to the interests of a party. Lot tho silont ones make a mighty noise, for, perchance, Sir Josoph is busy trying on coats of many colours, and let them remember "The_ fault is riot in our stare But in ourselves, that wo are underlinge." —I am, etc., 'SELDOM SPEAK. J June 12.