The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 3, 1906 MOMENTOUS ISSUES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1824, 3 August 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 3, 1906 MOMENTOUS ISSUES.

J ■)' is somewhat strange that momentous is:ues which affect tlio Empire and ourselves, as part of tlio Eiupire, are frequently passed by almost without notice in Now Zealand, while issues by no means so vital, but which happen to affect only the colony, attract considerable attention. Tho strange phenomenon is presented at Homo of a Government with one of the largest majorieties on record which appoars 1 to be totally out of sympathy with tlio majority of the people, not only in tho United Kingdom itself, but afso throughout the whole Empire. The Government, which mainly obtained its power by confusing the issues j before tho electors, and by raising the j cry of “ Chinese slavery ” while afterwards confessing that this cry was “ exaggerated and misleading,” seems bent on further shaking the confidence of its supporters by introducing a Bill avowedly with tho object of removing religious differences, which has j raised more discussion and engendered more bitter sectarianism than perhaps any other measure introduced into the Imperial Parliament in recent years. It is interesting to noto the tribute that is unconsciously paid to the ancient Constitution of the Kealrn by tho Leader of the Nationalists, when ,he, the last j to bo expected to do so ; declares that

1,1 tin’s matter Jiis party look to tlio l louso of Lords for protection. A more S'riuus position lias now urison, fraught with groat danger to tho Empire us a wholo, in tlio attitude of Sir Ilonry t’ampboll-Jlaiinorman and his col-

leagues towards tho recently conquered colonics in South Africa. It would almost socm that tlio Government, in spito of (ho many bittor lessons of its Liberal piodocossoiH, aro bont upon throwing away tho fruits of victory and of tho blood and money so frooly expended by tlio wholo Empire on tho Door war. No truo Britisher desires to tyranniso over our floor follow subjects, but can wo forgot, as Mr Dulfour says, that “ their memories aro of indopondonco which procodod tho war; thoy aro human.” And if we place tho povvor at omo in their liands by giving thorn tho full advantage of their superior numbors, do wo not run tlio gravorislc of endangering all wo lmvo fouglit for in tlio lato war and tho stability' of tho Empire as a whole 'i Whatovor our political views may bo on colonial matters, tlioro aro few colonials who do not sigh for tho return to power in the Imperial Parliament of a strong man in placo of tho irato mediocrity w’lio now governs tho Ernpiro.