PARTY SPIRIT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5215, 8 December 1877, Page 1 (Supplement)

PARTY SPIRIT.

In all departments of human thought and effort there are opposing parties, as in physics there is a centripetal and centrifugal force. Naturalists, geologists, historians, doctors, and literary men are all ranged under opposing leaders, and their party fights are often bitter enough, while theologians are quite as bad. It is no new thing tiais, as history abundantly proves; we are no worse and not much better than our fathers in this respect. It is, however, mere folly to whine over men working together in parties; as it is common for them to do this as to assume almost the form of a law of society, and is a great good when rightly used. So long as some men are more powerful in intellect, have greater personal influence, arising from experience, wealth and social standing than others ; and so long as there are varieties in training and culture, so long will there be opposing parties in the realm of thought aud action. Men may look at the same object, but the eyes see what it brings the power of seeing. We study the same facts with different feelings and from different points,.and so our conclusions differ. All that we need fear is lest party spirit should dominate over sound reason, right feeling, gentlemanly instincts, and the ordinary courtesies of civilised life. The real use of party in politics is to insure a fair discussion of the various possbile ways by which the highest good of the community may be attained. There are some fixed principles in politics as in other sciences, but as nations are ever found to vary in intelligence, wealth, self-control, and other things, there is probably no absolutely best way in which to carry out and apply these fixed principles; what is best at one time and in one place, may not always be the best in another; a wise man will discern both time and judgment. A benevolent despotism may suit one nation in a certain stage of growth a 3 it does children, while for English communities of any size Government by party seems best to harmonise with our free, bold way of doing things. The one grand point in liberal politics i 3 to ensure the greatest possible amount of individual freedom, which is found to be compatible with . the welfare of all. It will be obvious that in seeking this there will at once emerge great difference of opinion as to the best methods to be pursued. A man of enlightened and liberal mind will wish that all parties should have fair play, and that all should be heard in open council. Milton finely says, " Let truth and falsehood grapple, whoever knew truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter." In free social speech, in our Parliamentary discussions, in our newspaper columns, let all classes of men be heard, and then in the long run, it will be found that shallow reasoners will not mislead us, nor mob orators stir up the worst passions of the ignorant, setting class against class—nor shall party tyrants be able to enslave us, nor narrowminded men sit in the chief places of wisdom. The existence of parties amongst us not only ensures ample discussion of variouß projects, but these parties form powers in the State to give expression, as it may happen, to the ignorance or wisdom of the community they represent. As units, the men have little power ; but when a common feeling takes possession of a number of men, they for the time become all but irresistible. You may blow out a number of separate torches, but a forest on fire is another thing. Union is strength, and all the great onward movements in England of freedom in religion, in commerce, and in politics, have been wrought out by party agency.