Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1902. Differ Without Injury.

Manawatu Herald, 17 April 1902, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1902. Differ Without Injury.

The most unsatisfactory experience of public life is the inability of persons comprehending the possibility of being able to thoroughly oppose one’s neighbours pet theories without thereby becoming his personal enemy. We have had a fairly long experience of public life and have witnessed the difficulty of those who have not weighed this matter duly in the scale, to publicly fight yet privately to live in amity with one’s friend. With an excellent early training in the old Provincial Council we were taught this possibility by the actions of the older members who, in debate, were accustomed to wax warm and to use language both forcible and free, yet in an interesting interlude, when the Provincial “ Bellamy ” was visited, these noted champions would bo seen sampling good brands of their pet liquors together, and laughing and joking on the outside events of the day. The further one gets into the back-blocks the more vehement and serious will be found local politicians, who appear to possess the idea that if an opponent is not to be knocked into a cocked-hat by the burning eloquence of the utterer, it becomes his serious business to remove the infidel by all means, fair or foul, in his power. Naturally all this is terrible nonsense; in these peaceful days there is nothing of sufficient question, even in our colonial politics, let alone the very small local matters, for anyone to get warm about. Different men have different views as to how certain ends are to be secured, the ultimate result being the object sought by all. The differences that arise are simply as to the best manner of obtaining the general wish, and the whole object of discussion is merely to ventilate the matter, so that, if in the multitude of councillors there is wisdom, and one of the wisest of men has declared there is, the majority is to be credited with knowing best. Such a condition should secure peace, though it often occurs that other aspects of the case arise which duly deserve ventilation and publication, yet this should not be considered by the supporters of a scheme which may be objected to, that their lives are desired to be sacrificed to enable their opponents to win. Too much earnestness in discussion, without discretion frequently puts a community by the ears, and forces peaceful natures to refrain from taking part in discussions which, would they do so, would be wery advantageous to the general public. It will be a happy day when one and all will understand that the freer the discussion the better for all, but that plv a bo upon the poiaL ai, labile without personal references, and it will be by such references not being made that svujfc

discussions will become more general and more useful.