AN OUTSPOKEN SPEECH

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1171, 5 July 1911, Page 5

AN OUTSPOKEN SPEECH

"A HETTOGENEROUS MASS OF INGREDIENC.ES." POLITICAL CRUCIFIXION. Speaking at a meeting of the Women's Reform League on .Monday evening, Mr. F. M. U. Fisher made some interesting comparisons between t'he political ideals which had in the past done so much to form the character of a great nation, and the standard of ideals by which the character of this small nation might be judged, or misjudged, at the present day. There was a practice amongst the ancients which, whilst a modern Judge might- condemn its severity, yet had a most wholesome effect upon those who sought to make laws for the-people. This was to condemn to death, or to banishment, those authors of laws which had proved themselYes failures in operation. It was a severe practice, no doubt, but it possessed the advantage of making men think deeply and conscientiously beforo they ventured to urge their'reforms. But a change had come over the scene. The day of the Temporiser was at hand. Men now passed laws either against their •MgHient or possibly without thinking at all. lne public so far was not very particularly interested either way. Our public men openly adopted the policy of Machinvelli, who in his letter to the I'nucc wrote: "A sagacious prince, then, cannol. mid should not. fulfil his pledges when their observance is contrary to his own interest." .... It. is necessary that he should have, a versatile mind, capable ot changing readily according as the winds and changes of fortune bid him. lie should not swerve from the good if possible, but should know how to report to evil ( f necessity demands it." Ihcse were the principles which guided toe party m power. Do what is rHit if y "'l i?" gfli " • v 0 " 1' cmls '" t,lat wav. If not, then do wrong. The demands of the parly must always over-ride the demands ot the individual conscience. That was the modern doctrine, and a very pernicious one it was. Andrew Marvell who represented Hull in the House of Commons- in MO, ~-as one who had immortalised himself because he had refus«™w aC ?P P i t - a Ml ° usand Sulfas if ho would sell his vote to tho King, lie iV 1 ? ?i pOO1 ' man, w ''-° ,ive( ' in « "arret ""fj VOte of many .a modern politician could bo bought with a parish pump or a lamp-post. It was not so long ago that we were told by. two Government supporters that thev were real out-and-out Liberals, for they, u,like others, always .voted for the party in power even tvheu they knew-it to bo wrong. lliat was a modern conception of true representation, upon which inanjopinions might be expressed. The'present Ministry was hold in office by virtue ol the powers it wielded, not by political.belief or ability. Mr. 1-Wldi who used to travel New Zealand at his own expense, declaring that single tax was tho only real remedy for all things, now says nothing about it, unless taunted with his silence. Mr. Millar does not agree ?r •?,','•, Poivl(ls en this subject at all. Mr. Millar does not think any Crown land should be sold. Mr. Tom Mackenzie (locs not agree with this. He believes in freehold, but says nothing about it, as it might annoy Mr. Roddy M'Kenzie, who believes in continuance, but would not llu rt Mr. Buddo/s feelings for worlds, as -Mr. Buddo believes in No-License, stoats, and weasels. Sir John Findlay, K.C., believes entirely in Siv Joseph Ward, Bart., and Sir. Joseph Ward, Bart., believes entirely-in Sir John Findlay, K.C. However, t.'iey were all on top of the coach, and ,all imbued with a strong doSire to remain at all costs. They had Mr. Hogg • there once, but soon broached him. .".His.-opinions ' were too strong, and therefore too embarrassing. They must retain office at all costs. That was the sum total of the bond of loyalty which held together what he had lieard recently described as a "hettogencrous mass of ingvediences," in plainer language, the motor-car Ministry. Mr. .Fisher then spoke in strongest terms of the distribution of the Coronation honours, and said that tho man who introduced hereditary titles into this country ought to be politically crucified. There ought to be a law that uo subject of this Dominion should be permitted to accept anything that perpetrated that law of heredity which had driven from England the very sinews of her strength. To his mind, this hereditary business was the greatest blot in the whole history of the party of which Sir Joseph Ward was Preinier. Mr. Fisher urged the necessity of. tho ladies using every effort between now and the election to secure the return of tho Reform Party to power.. The Government party felt it was weakening. Year by year more and more money was being borrowed t.i enable electorates to bo bought, but Ihe more electorates they bought the more would want to be bought, and the borrowing policy could not stand this strain much iongcr. Ministers were already beginning to see to their boats, in case the ship should founder. No effort would bo spared by desperate men, to avert 'disaster.

The hand of public opinion was closing upon them slowly but surely, and by the efforts of such enthusiasts as this league contained,, he hoped that by December tho "Ministry of mosaics" would be but a painful memory.

A vote of thanks to Air. Fisher for his address was passed with acclamation, and an invitation extended to Air. Fisher to deliver a*a address to trie Brooklyn branch. ' ■ "