ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 501, 20 March 1880, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE

[We arc at all times ready (ogive expression to every shade of opinion, but in no case do we hold ourselves responsible for the sentiments of our correspondents.] (To the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sir, —How vividly the far-off memories of childhood last when later and more important events are forgotten, was strikingly brought to my mind yesterday, in reading the speech of a Colonial Legisator at the dinner (I beg pardon, “ banquet”) givjn to the Rifle Champion at Taranaki, Could I read words so precious as those there uttered, and not be reminded of the fairy tale Princess, wb,o, whenever she opened her mouthy tofc fall a shower of peals and diamonds from her beautiful lips ? Why, one sentence alone is a pearl beyond price, to be set in the recollection of man for ever. I allude to Sir If. Dillon Bell’s remark that It was in the Parliament that the people must seek for the principles which should regulate not only political conduct, but social conduct.” Was such a gem of condensed truth as tin’s ever seen before ? Let us look to Parliament at once; let us contemplate with awe that noble array of patriots, whose souls are as much above love of place and self-seeking as a Royal Commissioner is above the common herd of men. There wo see no “ ratting” in hope of a portfolio, no personal abuse of opponents, no wire-pulling, no log-rolling, no shunting wealthy rejected candidates into places of emolument, no unblushing assertion of untruths in the face of evidence ; no, all is lofty, pnre-souled principle, and an example to the Canaanitish out-side world upon whom the manna of a honorarium falls not, as an evidence of the elect and chosen ones. Look up, oh Philistines, to that exalted model of rectitude and independent purpose, and then—despair ! But, socially, what a still better example the Parliament sets before ns. The love of (ruth is the highest and greatest bond of society. No politician ever, at election time, promised railways, promised harbors, promised roads, bridges—anything—knowing the while that he meant to take the first opportunity to falsify his own promise, and slip past bis words. Never did that pure patriot shake the hand of a man ho hated or despised, to deceive him with a show of friendship or buy his vote. He sets us a better social example than to en-

courage snobbishness, or palter with the truth. How that curse of society—the love of scandal—is frowned down by our elect ! We never heard a white-haired old gentleman, speaking in public m this town, allude to the “ foetid atmosphere” surrounding an opponent whose portfolio as Minister he coveted? No member of the House of Representatives has meanness or silliness, or spite, or want of principle ; never is a bill at Bellamy’s left unpaid, or any excess indulged in. They are as much above such things as members of the Legislative Council are aboveland-sharking or gridironing, or the acceptance of snobs bowing hat in hand. They are high above us in the pure air, the ‘‘ windless calm” of the Olympian deities, who “ Lie beside their nectar, and the bolts are hurled Far below them in the valley, and the clouds are lightly curled Hound theii golden houses, girdled with the gleaming world.” May they ever be, as now, an example to the world of what humanity may attain to under higher and grander forms of development than have yet been reached by ns lower types of intellectual and moral life.—Yours, &c., PROTOPLASM. Carlyle, March 19th, 1880.