THE LIBERAL RESOLVE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10287, 23 May 1919, Page 4

THE LIBERAL RESOLVE

-Loyalty, in the broadest sense of the word, has always been the essence of the spirit of the Liberal party of Now Zealand.- It is not surprising, therefore, that the resolution passed by the Parliamentary members of the party yesterday is distinguished by three loyalties. These are, loyalty to the war compact, loyalty to Liberal principles, loyalty to the logic of facts. In entering into the compact, the Liberal party gave up to mankind what was meant —its best effort as a party—for mankind, through the use of the party machinery. This having become unworkable through lack of working majorities on either • side, necessitated coalition of both parties for the support of the war which bad become the supreme cause of mankind. Throughout the war the party remained loyal to the compact of Coalition, and the war being over, it has loyally given due notice ot its intention .to .withdraw from, theCoalition. .Loyalty to Liberal principles is shown in the determination to return at tho earliest possible moment—the moment of the general election—to the application of those principles to the service of the mankind of this Dominion. The facts of the situation are: (1) The end of the war, which is tho dominating fact; (2) the sustaining facts, which are the, compromises and failures in the political field during tho war—due to the difficulty of adjusting principles of policy—which, however, did not prevent the complete success of the war policy of the Coalition. The logic of these facts requiring the end of the Coalition, the 1 Liberal party is loyal to the logic of the facts, In the work of post-wnr construction, now in the very forefront of things, there is no room for compromise, and no reasonfor running any risk ot. failure. The first of these considerations lepves the field clear for the application of Liberal principles, while the risk of failure is prevented by the predominance of those principles. Tho fidelity of tho party to these principles justifies the party’s resolution. The resolution proves that the Coalition has not impaired the thoroughness of the Liberal spirit, and the Coalition will now takes its place in history as a proof of the party’s unswerving devotion to the interests of the Dominion, rather than a sign, as was once feared, of a weakening of its strength. We congratulate the party on the correctness and unanimity of, a decision which goes far towards guaranteeing the successful resumption of its splendid career. The great experiment of party truce has ended. Both parties having done their duty together for tho purposes of the war, are free to take their respective roads towards their common object, which is the welfare of New Zealand.