THE LATE GENERAL ELECTION.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 205, 3 January 1894, Page 2

THE LATE GENERAL ELECTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sib,— Prejudice has assumed the * form of , mental blindness in politics, just as effectually as taking out one's eyes would produce physical blindness. Being aware of this, the politician who has dubbed himself a " Liberal " has taken advantage of the political blindness of working men. In fact the Liberal has treated them as children who should believe in hia political creed, and look up to him as their political father, dictator, or high priest. To injure the other side a cry was raised by the Liberals that some of the Opposition were the owners of large estates, an alleged crime against "the people." Now, I could prove that Conservatism has saved the honor and supremacy of the British Empire in the past, and has also done good service in creating and preserving prosperity to the whole community in I this colony. Instead of tbat steady progress which would-be of general benefit, the Liberal haa set class against class, and interfered with the labor market, to attract and benefit a few at the expense of the many. Valuable lessons may be taken from nature which works slowly but surely. Man has had intelligence gi. en*_iim, to aid, and guide its working, but any forcing process is against natural laws, and sure to cause a re-action. The .- difference between a politician and a statesman, is, that the former looks first to self interest, ambition, or popularity within the narrow limits of his own lifetime, He favors a sensational policy to please the thoughtless multitude, but measures of permanent utility to his fellows are beyond the range of his mental vision. The I sfn.fnaninn _vr» <-_„_. _____ i___j i —^ „„ „.„ „„„ wwllsr unn u ex nenas his view over au unlimited range ; he looks to the past and notes tbe errors x made by previous rulers, and by the knowledge thus gained he avoids similar mistakes ahd is thus enabled to promote legislation which may tend to raise the status of the whole community. The term conservative may be repellant, but a statesman is not influenced by a mere name. Now I confess it is mere prejudice to assert that all Liberalism is" sham, or that there are not. real Liberal men and Statesmen within tbe ranks oi that party, but Liberalism has attracted quantity rather .than quality of members during the recent election, who being influenced by considerations named have been elected, but the greater portion of them will be like meteors and falling stars in the political firmanent, that is to say if political enlightenment increases and the thick veil gets uplifted from ihe eges of prejudice. I am, etc., A Colonist.