The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1872.

Dunstan Times, Issue 518, 22 March 1872, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1872.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely j ust the peS is mightier than the sword

The opinion lately expressed by a correspondent to one of our contemporaries—that Gold-fields Members of Parliament are, as a class, the lowest grade of representatives—was, in simple truth, a hard fact, plainly stated. It drew forth, as a matter of course, some indignant denials; but considered dispass.onately, and with all due reverence for the thoroughgoing Conservative principle, that respect for constituted authority is the chief safe-guard of political liberty, the truth of the assertion is self-evi-dent, however unpalatable and annoying that truth may be. Who can gainsay the statement that, in too

many instances, any innate feeling of respect that might have once influenced the individual miner to confide in his representative in Council as his political guide, mentor, and friend, has degenerated into unmitigated contempt; or that any proposal emanating from the elect of his choice, possessing even a solid sub-stratum of truth and honesty of purpose, is looked upon with suspicion, as a craftily devised trick or insiduous scheme to secure some further advantage to the quondam “ friend/’ whose superior cunning and self-seeking has already gained him place and pay, at the expense of his too confiding constituents. Contemplating, in his quiet moments of reflection, the self assertive conviction that, in trusting to the guidance of men whose only credentials for the honorable office of political representatives are unlimited powers of frothy Oratory and much unblushing effrontery, he has been woefully deluded, and inly conscious, also that, by careless exercise of the rights of franchise, lie has permitted himself to be the dupe of mei’c pandorers to narrow prejudices and class animosities—and with him also .too many of his intimate co electors—the miner is compelled to admit that he has become a mere unit in the political machine: a man with a vote, and nothing mole, the prey of cvpy political cormorant , seeking whom he rpay devour, " How j far it would bo right to. assuiho that-mining representatives personify the mental and moral attributes <of ,

their constituents is an open question, not necesscry at present to discuss. It is sufficient to make the admission that mining representatives, as a class, do not attain that standard of moral and intellectual worth, and honorable dealing that should constantly reflect credit on themselves, and also on the intelligence and sagacity of their constituents. »> Reasoning therefore from this point of view, it is gratifying to note that the late keenly contested e'ection in the Wakatip district fairly rouse 1 the electors to a true sense of their privileges, and resulted in the choice of a member who has every claim to beitfmsidered a representative man, oneiyhosft personal interests are so closely bound up with the general commercial, mining, and agricultural interests of the Province, that although an untried polilician, and, from of his election addresses if the printed reports may be taken as a fair reflex of his opinions, evidently holding no Very defined views upon any leading subject of public import anoe, save such as more immediately concern the. local interests of the district he now represents; he is yet the more reliable, the more worthy of public confidence, than any of the tribe of self seeking aspirants to poliiioal

power, who “ go in,” not for the honor, but for the pickings of office As a matter of expediency, Mr. Hallenstein took due care while a cmdidute for election' to strongly “ localise” his expressions of political duty, and his oft reiterated promises to seek redress for the grievances of the Wakatip electors, to obtain for them as much assistance as possible from the Government and the Assembly,and to advocate without limit, the urgency of the claims of the district, will be all faithfully fulfilled 3 time and circumstance permitting, A lavish use of such professions being essential to propitiate a certain class of voters, even in less keenly contested elections. But higher aims than these alone may he reasonably ■ expected from the new member for the Wakatip. The onerous and responsible duties devolving on a mining representative, are not limited by the requirements of any one particular district; but are widely extended throughout the length and breadth of the goldfields. . The one weak-point in our representative system, the primary cause of so many of the ablest and most respectable men holding aloof from politics, is the short sighted policy of constituencies, who elect representatives pledged solely to serve their own petty purposes, to the neglect of matters of wider and more general importance, Representatives forsooth ! who fret arid fume through their little parts on the political stage, pocket their honorariums, and then quietly retire to their accustomed obscurity, until the next Session. Never heard of in the interval, save as twinkling

little luminaries at local gttherings, or figuring even in less creditable exploits Such men as those, and they are many, justify the assertion that as a class, they are the lowest grade of representatives. With this class Mr. llallen stein cannot be identified, lie will scarcely employ his talentsand energies in advancing selfish objects, or the attainment of purely private ends, but rather may we anticipate that he will give practical example of earnestness and comprehensive action, whereby the actions and professions of other re. presentatives may be fairly gnaged. Avoiding all prematuro conclusions, and accepting election promises at tlicir worth, it is a matter of congratulation that a member, superior to the ordinary run of mining representatives has at last been elected.