Untitled

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 234, 1 April 1912, Page 4

POLITICAL METHODS. j We are sorry that Mr. Massey did not see fit, during his recent campaign in Taranaki, to give the community a rest from one particular phase of his political methods. Both he iand his colleagues, in season and out of season, decry not only the policy of the Government, but also its individual members. In their > eyes "n'o good thins can come out of Xazareth," and if Sir! Joseph Ward dares I to blow his nose orj the Hon. T. Mac-' kenzie changes his tie these incidents are at once seized uuon as of dark and sinister import, and are denounced as being a gross breach of administrative etiquette calculated to drive the country still further to the dogs. This may be politics of a sort, but it displays a primitiveness of att tude * that is as childish as it is undignified. Frankly, it is not playing the game. Of course, the Progressive Party l itself is not free from all reproach in this direction, but the mote in its political eye is infinitesimal as compared with the beam in the optic of its brother. This particular form of optical "astigmatism is not rare in the Pari incuts of the world, but the present Refo«~party in New Zealand carries it to Btravagant excess. We are wont to pridwmrselves upon the dignity of our political life as compared with that of our cousins overseas, but there is nothing which tends more | quickly to lower the t me of politics ahd degenerate its atmos{here than an atj titude of this sort. £lr. Massey does not honestly believe fo: • one moment thafcj the Government is incapable of any goom yet he taxes it with every wrong. TheJJ is no suggestion fron his Party th« honor should be giveji where honor il due. They look, instead, for spots upon the sun, magnifying them to immensities! andkquite ignoring that "pure severity! of perfect light" that is their backing! It is not for us to afesist his Party to power by pointing out that a more gener-| ousjand less querulous attitude would win! them support tjhat their hypercritijcism is alienating. ! We are more concerned with the dignity of Parliament • and i the fairness of political life. Mr. Maspey's present method of campaigning, moreover, naturally picion that his clamor is a means to an end, j and that he is endeavoring to cover the deficiencies of his own platform by persistently decrying that of his opponents. In a word "he doth protest too much," and a little abuse and more argument would materially improve his standing in the country. Politics are at best an unwholesonte game under the system of party government, but they can be made much mote elevating when they are cleanly and fairly conducted by generous and honorable opponents, The political traditions of our country stand high in history, but the spirit of personal rancor and the tacit conspiracy of vituperation, which hive been induced by latter-day strenuouiMesa, ar» tending to lower their average it a manner which must be a source of sincere repret t.o all students of politics.