"BRITISH LIBERTY."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1186, 22 July 1911, Page 6

"BRITISH LIBERTY."

A LECTURE TO JOHN BULL. THE BOLD ATTORNEY-GENERAL. This entertaining little articlo is from tho_ "Bruce Herald":— When Lord Macaulny wrote his famous essay, on "Von Ranko's History of tho Popes," and made his celebrated prediction—"when somo traveller from New Zealand shall, in a vast solitude, take his stand on a brokvu arch of London bridgo to' sketch tho ruins of St. Paul's"—he little thought that within a few years a traveller from New Zealand would deliver a public address in London, and audaciously tell tho people of Great Jiriiaiii that their proud boast of "British Liberty" was a weak and flabby sentiment! But that day has arrived! Tho discoverer of this great and glorious truth is Sir J. G. I'indlay, Doctor of Laws in, this Dominion over seas! Wherever the. Britisher sets his fool, and wherever the British flag flies, it has always been his pride that his country is the freest on earth, and British liberty the noblest ideal of-freedom, lint, "in tho twinkling of an eye," like flic notorious Land Bill of Iho Cabinet, this proud boast Britain was laid in the du>t by .Sir ,T. G! I'indlay, on a soft night in Juno in London (own. Like Caesar, he came, he saw, ho conquered—he tore the veil from the eyes of the Britishers and showed them their idea, of "British liberty" was a poor, weak sentiment unworthy of reverence, fit ouly for tho sons of their degenerate, sires! Thus, in effect, did this audacious traveller from New Zealand .denounce British liberty, if ho is reported correctly. Amongst other gems of rhetoric which fell from his lips, the following paste diamond is a glittering specimen:— "Hβ was awaro that in that country Mill's doclrine of individual liberty still held good, but he could tell them that New Zealand had discredited that doctrine in practice and theory. The New Zealamler held that flabby aud weak sentiment had to bo met with compulsion, a doctrine which ■ ho knew was foreign to the British spirit." He also told them that: "The New Zealander does not object, because his first consideration was the permanent welfare of tho people as a whole." Many people in New Zealand will bo somewhat astonished at Sir J. G. l'indliiy's rcmarkablo statements; that Mill's idea of liberty has been falsified here, and that New Zcalandors do not. object to the taking away of their liberties by Acts of Parliament. Here is another paste gem of his brilliant rhetoric:— "He feit he could say th.it class distinctions had disappeared. Hank anil title had r.o influence, and ho did not believe they ever would have any influence in New Zealand. Tho man was the test." ' When this was presented to bis London audience the speaker was plain Dr. .Vinrthiy; yet witliin a few days ho was knighted! What must have been the frelings of his audience and their eenceplion of the truth of his conviction.-, when thev discovered that tho man who had told them "Ilial. rank and title hail no influence" iu Now Zealand had calmly accepted knighthood? But we know our versatile Doctor of Laws belter in New Zealand than tho people of London. JJid he not publish a book en Humbugs, in which he laid dawn tho maxims: "See that your convictions Iv.'.ve a I nek door of i>ft\ini!"; amithor, "Keep ,v"ur voice loud mid fm te-p-.lnl your superlatives" to say nothivn,' in" "Do good for si'lf, but blush to find it fame." These cynical maxims explain out Doctor of Laws tidier than many words, and show the wisdom of politicians not givina themselves I away by writing book*. But, if he. shoiiM issue .". fresh edition en Hunibiies, In- might, iiiir-r his Ixjndon speech, :u\;l to fhc following:— F.lornal U'pshi ion is the price of liberty—in New Zealand. New Zealand gives .Dreadnoiishls, and her politician* :iro paid with title?. "Tho New ZeaUmder has :i fecial confcioucr,," —aud he lins handed it over to the village con-table for safe keeping. Compulsion is the soul of liberty—to Hi* Government. Lill'.e New Zcalaiul has upset all tho inspired wisdom of the- ases, and made hinnbuzs to rejoice in high place*. New Zealfl'iil has a population of one million—mostly Government .servants. Tho more millions we burrow the richer we become—in AA'ard's Loan Country.