PUBLIC OPINION

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1930, Page 3

PUBLIC OPINION

AMERICAN IDEALISM. “It is necessary to remember that idealism bolds a permanent place ift the mind of' the average American. It is all to' easy for the casual visitor, impressed as lie necessarily is by the hurry and rush of American business life, to overlook this essential factor in the composition of the Arperican mind. To do so is to Tun the risk of misunderstanding the entire mental background of the American people. For example, I think that the majority of Americans firmly believe that in the case of two contending parties the weaker is pretty certain to be right. They further consider that nnv ruling class in whatever country is almost certain to abuse its power Again, they always tend to associate political dependence with commercial explo i tation. ’ ’ —Professor Rushbrook Williams, in the “Review.”

THE .JEWS AND PALESTINE. “Nothing less than a Jewish Palistine will be acceptable to Zionism,” states the “Yorkshire Post.” “And the Christian and Moslem population of about three to one can never agree to a programme which has this lor its avowed, or even unavowed, object. It seems a dilemma from which there is no escape. And, unfortunately for us, though Palestine is a small place, i» touches what can be described without exaggeration as world issues. Already to-day we have incurred the animosities of a considerable /section of Jews on the one hand while the Aran world, from Cairo to Bagdad, is watching us closely on the other. Palestine offers as difficult j a probrem of statesmanship as could present itself to an a 1 ready_. pyeyhuvdeued. ment.” THE WAY OF APT;... “Who is it; that says, '.‘lt is more blessed’ to travel ' Ann to arrive;.? That is most triiei it is the effort, the, fight, the reaching out to grasp a perfection that ever beckons and ever eludes, which is real felicity and never turns to ashes in the mouth,” writes Jessie Bond, who* was for so many years associated with Gilbert and Sullivan operas, in “Life and Reminiscences.” “I wonder sometimes,” sbe adds, “if the young ones realise this —Perhaps we never do when avc arc young—but there seems to be now a slackening of effort among young artists, a disposition to be too easily satisfied, to run in grooves and 'neglect the wider training, and.to depend too much oiv lobks•'and legs as ; •factors': of success.-- • No doubt-.I shall be told I am old-fashioned,'but T can only say Avliafc 1 .feci.’-’. • * ' v v . .i'., a...; • •' ELECTION PROMISES. “A party inspiring to office will most commonly lie tripped up if it makes detailed promises regardless of future contingencies, and regardless especially of those national or international circumstances which, as they will learn later from their permanent officials and advisers, not infrequently conflict with high-flying theory and picturesque promises. Therefore, it is necessarily upon broad issues that a sane party leader will make his electoral appeal, and he will obviously choose his Cabinet after the .elections from men whom he can trust neither to demand:the impossible nor, on the other hand,: unduly to impede the general policy to which they, in common with the rest of the party, have subscribed. The electoral appeal is made on policy, not on individuality. Those who are to decide the nature of the new -Government.are not a few individuals. but the *«-holo electorate. and the latter are at least supposed to exercise such critical faculties ns they possess in order. to discern what general policy they,; prefer, • and also what .undertakings stand most chance of being fulfilled.—“ Yorkshire Post.” ’ .