PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATIVES.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 297, 14 October 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATIVES.

From a very able article recently published by the Auckland Star, we make the following extracts, and have no doubt most of our readers will observe how peculiarly applicable some of the references are to the ambitious candidate just put forward by the sham Liberals of this district One of the numerous dangers to which democracies are liable lies in the choice of their Parliamentary representatives.. The easy opportunity is availed of too often by strong-lunged superficiality, mischievous fluidity of discourse, brazen effrontery, selfinterest, and a variety of other showy qualities which appeal to the eye and ear of the “free and independent” elector with a force utterly out of proportion to their merits. The more modest characteristics of genuine worth and fitness have hut little chance, and sadly retreat before the vociferous din of the political arena, relinquishing with regret all thought of taking part in the council of the nation. To this rule there always will be fortunate exceptions, and loud, coarse, and vulgar mediocrity, such as the “many-beaded monster” loves, is happily tempered to some small extent by honesty and uprightness, combined with cultured aptitude. May there never be wanting the ten righteous who suffice to save the State. To the task of describing the latter a little more in detail we now address ourselves. In the Member of Parliament one looks first of all for knowletlg c of affairs, familiarity with politics. He must understand the course of events in the history of the people, one of whose representatives be is, and have a respectable acquaintance with the jmuoiplesou whichthatcountryhas bccu

governed and on which it ought to be governed. Politics cannot he learned in idle half-hours, or picked up in shreds and Patches from the gossip of bar-parlours and c lub-rooms. Pot-house babble and the Science of Government are poles apart. To be a political] of respectability—let alone a statesman—there must be laborious study, painstaking application, wide reading in history, careful comparison of the systems obtaining in various countries. The legislator requires a special training equally as the lawyer, the jihysieian and the ship master. The owners of a ship would be considered lit subjects for Bedlam if they entrusted tlieir property to the care of an ignorant landman. And what invalid in his senses would consent to be treated by one utterly inexperienced'in the cure of diseases ? From the mariner who would conduct a vessel, society demands a certificate of competency ; from the medical man commencing to practise, a diploma ; but from the aspirant to political honors no credentials at all as to his fitness for the position arc asked for. Any ignoramus with brass enough, may hope to hack and hew, and drench with his quackeries, the body politic ; or, to change the figure, may have some expectation of holding the helm of the ship of state. Our young men might, with great advantage, give some portion of the leisure which amusement now claims entirely, to acquiring information on political questions, to tracing the growth of what is termed the British Constitution ; to determining the reasons for the prosperity of nations, and tnc causes which have led to tlieir downfall. The time bestowed on such matters —which, though usually considered unattractive and dry-as-dust, can he surrounded with an engrossing interest—will have been wisely expended. The benefit must he evident in the legislation of years to come. Another, and perhaps the most important of all the qualifications to be looked for in the Member of Parliament is intei/rity. In the present state of public morality, this is the last thing expected. We are following too closely the example set in the United States, where “politician” is almost synonymous with “sharper” and “scoundrel.” Honesty of purpose is an inconvenient superfluity. Sturdy independence and the courage of opinions are impedimenta, which must be left behind in the race for political influence. The first consideration is self ; then possibly comes some solicitude and regard for the constituency represented ; the bvntiiu publicum, the good of the State at large, is reckoned last. The ordei of things is exactly inverted. If members are made circumspect and kept in fear by anything, it is not by the moral sense, or by any regard for the country’s destiny ; but by the thought that they will shortly have to meet their constituents, and that the general election looms in the near distance. These are the corrective agencies which usurp the place of a conscience. Conscience, forsooth, lias long ceased lo be an element in politics. It seems to have taken a long farewell of all legislative process. And if it enters no more into the constitution of individual members, it can scarcely be expected to he possessed by the State. Whoever maintains that the State ought to have a conscience, and that public actions should evidence some respect for it, willbcsetdown as old fashioned and behind the times. Expediency and pres/ifje are the modern ideas which have driven it out. One item of political morality, according to some, isconsistcncy ; but the estimation of this matter is hedged about with several difficulties. The mere fact of changing one’s mind is no sign of obliquity ; it implies not unfrequently maturer thought, and a juster view of things. But when such a change is sudden; when it is clearly made for a purpose, for some selfish end ; or when there is an abandonment of principles formerly cherished, then there is good reason for suspicion. It is not the act of an honest man to throw over fixed principles on the impulse of the moment. If he finds occasion to change them the process is usually a slow, often a painful one. Mr Gladstone ha* sometimes been charged with inconsistency, because lie began life as a Tory, and is now an advanced Liberal. But the change of views was very gradually brought about, extending, as it (lid, overlong years of riper thought and wider knowledge ; and clashing more than once with his interests. But to get the majority to comprehend the i,ai.a m i._ „ 1

less task. In addition to the virtues of integrity and a fully informed mind, one is glad to find in the candidate for Parliamentary honors an intelligence above the ordinary. Democracies are supposed to favor mediocrity ; the popular perception is too dull to appreciate rightly the more powerful claims of the man of talent and genius. He has too many crotchets ; he is apt to stand obstinately by any opinions he may have formed for himself; lie is not so subservient as a

man with less brains might be. The electors of .Westminister soon got tired of John Stuart Mill, and the greatest political economist of the day was rejected for a commonplace bookseller of respectabilty. Eloquence and an agreeable style of speaking are gifts extremely useful to a Member of Parliament; but they are too often confounded with the much more common faculty, viz., what is called the “gift of the gab.” Fluency is often a great snare, more especially when combined with poverty of ideas and sterility of intellect, '.•'his not uncommon union has turned Parliament into a mere talking shop, to the despair of all sensible people, who still have some sort of belief that, whatever speech may be, silence is certainly golden. If we add to our list of qualifications capacity for work and urbanity of manner, we think wo have made it tolerably complete.

The extraordinary performances of Fritz Kapernick, the famous Berlin pedestrian, arc attracting the thoughtful attention ot scientific circles, while physiologists, physicians, and anatomists are speculating as to the secret of Fritz’s unique physical powers. Professor Alfred Ivirchoif, of Hallo, the celebrated geographer, compares his achievements with those of the historical pedestrians of the ancient Mexican postal service, known as the Tsohaskic, and declares that he has proved himself to be quite their equal. The Professor continues :—“lt is recorded, for instance, that the foot messengers constituting the Aztee post not infrequently traversed a distance equivalent to 885 yards per minute. This statement has generally been regarded as mythical, but Fritz Kapernick has demon* strated its credibility, forliis race from Potsdam has matched if not exceeded it.” Wc may add that Kapernick, at the suggestion, it is said, of English sportsmui, has projected for the autumn a run of • ,500 miles in six consecutive weeks. If ti sis accomplished it will be by far the most conspicuous example of human e -durance in this direction on record.