The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1905. POLITICAL SALVATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7845, 10 June 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1905. POLITICAL SALVATION.

lit we are to believe those who ara clamouring for tho sweets! of Office,, the salvation of the colony depends entirely on the overthrow of the pre-, sent Government. It is evident that these good people believe they have a mission of the first importance thrust upon thorn, or, perch a nce, selfimposed. Of course, no reasonable person would for a moment considen any element of personal ambition, o# the desire to benefit themselves in any way, entered into the jqjicstion. History has recorded the heroic sacrifices of many pure-minded, loftysouled patriots who have devoted all iheir energy towards overthrowing tyrants, and bringing about a new, regime. BrVitvo hearted men-and women were Ihesc. Somewhat misguided at times, it is true, but Bo full o£ energy and faith in tho righteousness) of their cause. Were it not, for the fact that history also records (pos- , sibly with equal truth) that the wollroeant efforts of these devotees of purity and freedom not infrequently 1 , ended in the last state being worse than the first—tho overthrowers of, despots- themselves becoming arch-« tyrants, and King, Stort being found far moro to be dreaded than King, I»g—then wo might welcome to; tho political arena all the champions of liberty and progress, hail each leader of a new party with fervour, and take their pronouncements as the genuine outcome of a deeply rooted and unselfish desire to J)eCome tho political saviours of their country .| There appears to be arising in New. Zealand a array of partypatriots,, all 'aniinafced by the praiseworthy desire to show their genius and skill as* drivers of the (Government chariot. They seem to be willing to sacrifice their ease and comfort as citizens-, in order to place their talents at the service, o£ r the State. Naturally, those who have the strongest faith in Iheir own abilities to lead the country from tho errors into which they? declare it has) fallen during tho Seddon administration will tell that they can be oil far greater service as Ministers! than) as mere units elected by the people; to make laws for the community i The pity of it is that there arc not enough portfolios to go round, so as to avoid some of the deserving being left out in the cold, unless tho number oi Ministers was to bo 5n-

definitely increased—a. course that would be fraught with expense and Cl possible lack,of dignity. The tri- ■ umph of Liberalism in New Zealand l t( is absolutely complete—the coping f. stone having just been added by tht 'V New Liberal Party. Conservatism ' died hard, but even the organs of t what was known as the Conserva- 1 tive Party assisted at the obsequies, v I and are now basking in tho mora * genial ways of Liberalism of a kind. .Mr Massey is even credited by tho i, (Post whh having a Liberalism of |i I his own, but which he is willing t«i 11 ehara w.ith the country if allowed ,' that free scope which is only at the command of a Prime Minister. Tho Political Labour League is another Liberal Party with aims'of its own, not quite ao comprehensive,; perhaps, as one might wish, but not rigorously exclusive. Then there are' the X'rohibitionists and' the Socialists, the New Liberals, and lastly our old and well-tried friends who have raised.the country to its present enviable position. There is just a

possibility that some of the electors 6 may be at iirst somewhat confused at the choice of so many varieties { of the same Liberalism, but there is , very little likelihood of any difflcul- i ty being exptilienced in discrimina- i ting between the false and the true. This exuberant crop of pscudo Liberal parties, while flattering to those who have the best right to the

name, is such a flimsy device to :atch votes that.it should not deceive the veriest tyro in politics. It Is in reality only a feeble attempt at a coalition of divergent forces for an attack on the Government of the day which, if successful, would result in dire chaos. There is but one real Liberal Party, and that is headed by the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, and the astounding vigour, both phy- j Bical and mental, that he has been ( exhibiting during his recent tour augers well lor the despatch of business during the coining session, andt' for tho triumph of his party oyer their antagonists at the ensuing election.