A LETTER FROM GATH.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8964, 2 November 1907, Page 4

A LETTER FROM GATH.

“ Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon.” ' To the well-beloved Rabbi Ben- ■ hadad, in the street called Straight, in Damascus. Greetings,— Let me tell thee something of the manners and customs of the people with whom I sojourn for a time. It is forbidden here to publish all that occurs, and the scribes frequently stray far from the way of truth. They may not set down anything pertaining to some of public import, lest they be hailed before the judge and cast into prison. There is even a law that declares tiiat known libertines and evil-doers are to bo regarded as angels of light if they can get two persons to sign a statement that they are fit to become candidates for the representation of the people. And those who are elected to what is called the House of Representatives , are expected to leave both their r reasoning power and their con- | sciences at home, because tin y are useless embarrassments in lie Parliament. This is ruled_ entirely by one man, who calls on his majority, or party, to vote as he directs. But the people would rend the stranger who declared to them that this is not representative government, but despotism, without the danger the despot incurs. They are truly an extraordinary people. The hand of the tax-gatherer presses on them heavily, and they yield tribute freely, after which their skilled and cunning men use this tribute to bribe them and purchase their votes. The opponents of the cunning ones, of course, iiave no control of the purse and no access to the treasure chest, in which the contributions of the people are kept. Among this people there is a class at once noisy and clamorous, and wofully ignorant of such history as we possess, as to, the effects of certain legislative actions performed in times past. This class has a bitter and unreasoning hatred of all who by thrift and industry have gathered store unto themselves, and the hatred is specially keen against those who are using land. Why this should be so I have not yet discovered, but it is passing strange, seeing that all are dependent on the products of the laud, and that these alone bring wealth into the country. False prophets among this class have stirred them up to demand that no man shall own the laud he uses, that none shall hold it for more than a limited term, and that when it has been improved by its holder others may compete with him for its possession. Stranger still than all this is the fact that it is proposed to make certain country land-users pay the cost of educating the children in the cities, and pay the pensions of the aged poor. When I heard of these tilings I was filled with amazement, and would not now report them but that I am assured of their truth. It seems that the pensions were first established to catch the votes of all the aged poor as well as of those who would otherwise have to keep them, and the cunning men who gained power discovered that the necessary money could not be obtained except I)} levying special tribute on the country lauds. Lest it is wondered why the votes of pensioners should be cast, let me explain that this strange people not only give the pensioners and dependents equal voting power with those who iiave to find the money, but they even allow the paid servants of the State to influence its legislation and administration. And that way many evils arise. Among other things, this enables them to deride and despoil the land-users and wealth-creators, and compel country serfs to supply funds for expenditure in the cities. This peculiar people also believe that it is profitable for all the people to pay high pricses for their supplies, provided* small'proportion of their number can be employed at useless work. This may seem more madness, because in our country we set all doing useful work, of which there is plenty to do, and with our exports we purchase our supplies at a third of the cost they rule at here. This is no doubt why our land is prosperous. We iiave more to send out and much more to get in return. Yet this laud is a veritable garden in which nature has spread her best gifts. With all its advantages, however, it is every year becoming more difficult to live, and the poor man feels keenly the increased cost. This people do not yet see that the sole reason why they have to pay more is because they are keeping so many at useless work. Aud the cunning ones, to retain office a little longer, have persuaded the people that the evils will vanish if they make the cost of supplies still higher. All this will excite thy laughter, but sometimes the folly of a people is a cause for mourning. Later I will despatch yet another letter from this curious land. GIDEON, THE WAYFARER.