Rangitikei Advocate. THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8728, 31 January 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

Titi: result ef the elections in Germany Las come as soniewlul of a surprise" The Keicbstng was recently dissolved in a high-handed manner because it refused to vote the required supplies for the African colonies, and it seemed likely that tho people would resent the contemptuous treatment meted out to their representative::. There was very sufficient justification for the action of the combination of socialists and clericals which thtw out the supplementary estimates. A long and expensive war had been going on for years without producing any satisfactory results. There had been grave suspicion that the late Colonial Minister had a personal interest, in a firm which obtained most of the contracts to supply material to tho Colonial Department, and his resignation had bt en ac-fcp'fl i>y tho Emperor. 'Worst of ail the oncers charged with j the itdiiiinistnition of (ho colonies j had in liitiuy cases b-..tn gmity of the j grossest outrages on natives, es- ■ pecially on native woman, and had 1 never beep, punished as they do-'

jived. The Emperor and Prince iulow, however, appealed to the i atriotisra of the people. It was J ointed out that the future of the I lolonial Empire was at stake and very reactionary and conservative f nrce was put in motion to aid the ] uiiser to obtain his desires. ( ■'n.tnot-iain and conservatism com- . lined have for the time accomplished he rout of the socialists who have , litherto being growing more powerful , it every election. Many who have ntherto voted for socialist candilates, fearing that their cherished dea of a German over seas was in danger, have cast their votes i [or the Government, or at any rate for a member of one of the numerous • sections of the House who are not so bitterly opposed to the ruling power ; as the socialists. The curious position ; exists in the Reichstag that there are ; about 13 parties, and politics there- J fore consists of a system of bargain- , ing to secure the support of one or other of the different sections. As an example of this we may quote a cablegram received yesterday which stated that Prince Bulow's organ had ceased its attacks on the Centre party as the attitude of that party to the National Liberals would have a great effect on the results of the second ballot. While we cannot regret the defeat of the socialist party we must | deplore'the fact that the elections have shown that constitutional govment is as far off as ever in Germany and that the power of the Kaiser is not to be bridled by the votes of the people. It seems likely that the process of sitting on the safety valve must result sooner or later in a eerious explosion of discontent, although for the moment the danger has passed. "We were often inclined to think that the Budget statements brought down by ill' Be-ldon were of inordinate lJnglh, but tbey were meri light and a : -ry trifles compared with the 58 closely printed octavo pages which contain President Roosevelt's last address to Congress. At the same time it must bo admit'ed that the President of the United States never writes unless ho has something to say and that his words on any subject he touches are full of sound sense. The following extract from his address is of general interest outrude as well as'within the United States. "In dealing with both labour and capital, with the questions affecting both corporations and trade unions, there is one matter more important to remember than aught else, and thai is the infinite harm done by preachers of mere discontent. These are the men who seek to excite a violent class hatred against all men of wealth. They seek to turn wise and proper movements for the better control of corporations and for doing awav with the abuses connected with wealth into a campaign of hysterical excitement and falsehood, in which the aim is to inliame to madness the brutal passions of mankind. IV pro.eh hatred of the rich man as .such, to carry on a campaign of slander and invective against him, to su-lc to mislead and inflame to madness honest men whose lives are haul, and who have not the kind of mental training which will permit them to appreciate the danger in the doctrines preached - all this is to commit a crime against the body politic and to be false to every worthy principle and tradition of American national lifo. Moreover, while such p:o chins and such agitation may ./ive a "livelihood and a certain Notoriety to some of those who take part in' it, and may result in the temporary political success of others, in the iong run every such movement will either fail or else will provoke a violent reaction, which will itself result not merely in undoing the mischief wrought by the demagogue and the agitator, but also in undoing the good "that the honest reformer, the true upholder of popular rights, ha? painfully and laboriously achieved."

In speaking at Auckland on the tariff revision proposals which will be brought furwaid next session the Premier made a somewhat indefinite and general statement that " the primary object would be to lighten tiio burdens on the people by removing the duties from the necessaries of life. The alterations would also go in the direction of permitting rawmaterial nquired to be used for manufactures in the colony to come in fire of duty, and thus place our manufacturers in the position of being able to compete with those outside. The alterations, generally speaking, would not go upon the lines of extreme protection, but on the lines of judiciously building up our industries. They required to striko tho happy medium, and ho could a-suro them that the matter was being approached with idea of improving the general condition of the colony." Such remarks as thtsi may be interpreted almost exactly as we please and may be ("(■■.scribed as extremely diplomatic. They do not apparently offer much hope to extreme protectionists though the judicious building up of our industries may be made to cover almost any increase of duties. All that can be done is to scrutinise with the greatest care any proposals that are made testing them by the principle that duties should be imposed with tho single object of raising revenue.