WHEN PARLIAMENT MEETS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1365, 16 February 1912, Page 2

WHEN PARLIAMENT MEETS.

WHAT WIIJi 'HIMY J)O, OK SAY, OK. BE, OR. SUFFER? Sir,—As (he time approaches for the meeting of Parliament, the above question, or series of (jiiestioii?, mo eagerly asked by those who take an interest iii (he "welfare of the country as a whole." Immediately after the election we were (old I hat Hie Prime Miiii.-ter "wuuld c-o the right liiins." Well, has he not done it: You will, of course, iimU-rstand that amang-t (he glorious traditions of (lie great Liberal party, one that ha.s always been pre-eminent i» nracticnlly "to kee)) what yon hare and. yet wluil yon can." This lias been carefully attended to, no (|ile.-lion about il. To have expected that the (.'iivernmi'iil wmild iwign, l.wan.sc ulher men in other i-omitrius, in the .same set of circumstances would have resigned, would show tltist human naturi" had not berii carehi]ly studied, particularly Unit special edition of human nature of which our Liberals are to fine a type. It will be especially interesting lo note the content? of the Governor's tpore-Ii which will have to bn pt'fscnled. The old styln of enumerating n li'iiglhy li»t of proposed measures will certainly require

(<i lio varied. Thai vrry <jld friend, Ilio Lwal Government Hill, which > »lri-<|iit>nt-ly emlx'llisiicd Ilic Governor's Spcieh, al l'ra-f, I inn informed, abiul, a dozen times in twenty years, could scarcely be inthiiii'ii cM-i'iit lor variety, nr t!n> yieldini,' In force <if habil. It docs mil conduce Iμ cstabli-hing eonlidonce whin pro-nii.-i's jjii iinl'iilfillcil. It savours ton much nl' lliu lack of principle di-playcd In-tho.-e who n<;;l;ct lo !iiid the principal iv|>ie.-ciitcd by a promissory not/'. W1i , . 1 - Vlkm" Hit! MHTcli will contain anv reference to llic'supiwscd fit of menial'alxna(ion, itiln which the uugra'.eiul public foil when they gave theiY decisions un December 7 am! It, remains la be seen. No doubt it will (jo a very liiiinun pro<liiclioii! (hero should not bo a wobble in it.

What a change, the all-powerful Ministers file ing ;i bleak and dreary prospect, from Ministerial rank to the position of a lMinonlity, is certainly not inviting; but such is lilt-. Of course, we may be sure that all the arts known to political eife have been tried to stave oil' impeiuliUK danger. To wlr.it extent they have been successful time alone will show. Til* dividing; fence between the parties is now n very low one. It would not lie surprising to learn that mine may have been quietly practising acrobatic feats to ascertain whether they could not gracefully turn a somer.-ault'.'iud land on the other side, where experience might bo at a premium. Such tilings have happened before. 1 am told it is on record that a, Certain former Oppositionist, while in that unpleasant position, wrote, or was it spoke, to this ell'cct:"Yer principles a simple plan, Follow the Government a' ye can, Talk blethers l:> the working man, On him yp dote. Nae doot ye'd turn Mohammedan To "catch a vote." After this cruel denunciation, it is said he became conscience striken and betook himself to the desolation of the mountains, where, after much prayer and fasting, he. decided to make amends for his serious (Tansgression, and turn his back on the past, and lead a new and better life. This, if true, was highly commendable. He is then supposed to have arrived at a satisfactory state of translation, which might be .summed up thus:— My principles just now are Bran', Had them reversed, yp undcrstan' I'm now a talking, bletherin' man, An' please tak' note. It answered line to change my plan, An' turn my coat. There is a certain admonition, which, slightly altered, may have been the guide or justification for "such change. It is, turn ye, turn ye, for why will you remain insignificant, oh, members of Parliament? Don't bo surjfriseil to see a little turning or even twisting, ljecaui-e the position is fast becoming serious.—l i,m, - etC - ; AGIUCOLA.