LIBERALISM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2565, 7 October 1893, Page 2

LIBERALISM.

TO. THE EDITOR. Sie, —" Scratch a Russian and you will find a Tartar." This saying of the great Napoleon, with a very slight alteration, seems peculiarly applicable to your correspondent "A Liberal," whose letter concerning the Geraldine Liberal Association appeared in Saturday's issue of your paper. Scratch "A Liberal" of your correspondent's order and you have a, Conservative. The Liberal veneer is very thin. The Conservatives in Parliament, able to find no arguments against the Government measures—woman's franchise, for instance—urge that the Government is not Bincere iu introdocing them, and does not wish them passed. So with " A Liberal". The Geraldine Liberal Association's platform, according to this wiseacre, has been specially got up by the members for the special purpose of being useless. To those who have not seen the platforms of other Liberal Associations I may say that our platform is in accord with all the others. It deals with the broad principles only of Liberalism, and contains nothing but what every true Liberal will subscribe to. In drawing up the platform care wan taken to exclude all debateable matters, so that all might unite and agree to a common platform. Every Liberal must agree with (1) adult suffrage, (2) land and income tax and tax on absentees, (3) the people having control of the licensing matters (perhaps this is where the shoe pinches, 1 (4) bona fide land settlement, (5) preserving the public estate, (6) maintaining present system of education, (7) reducing taxation on necessaries. " A Liberal" who will not subscribe to such broad planks as the above must be, without question, a Conservative in disguise. It is the intention of the association from time to time to invite leadiug Liberals to give addresses here, so as to ensure the spread of Liberalism, and win supporters to the Liberal Government. We hope in time to hear all the leading men on the Liberal side. On reading " A Liberal's" letter I marvelled for what object it was written. The answer has been suggested" for the object of saying nothing." If this is so, your correspondent may congratulate himself oh having said it well. I don't in! end to answer any annonymous correspondents in the future, as the person who is ashamed to subscribe his name to his letters is not worthy of notice. Thanking you in anticipation, I have, etc., iiDWIN Robson, Hon. Sec. Geraldine Liberal Association. P.S—Since writing the above I have received a letter from the Hon. W. M. Bolt, one of the leadiug Labor Members iu the Legislative Council,, who says, among other things : " Many thanks for the platform of the Geraldine Liberal Association. I consider it to be a concise and well-ixpvcssed declaration of Liberal principles—indeed in that, respect it is a model." TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Will you kindly give space in your valuable paper for a few remarks on the wonderful, great politician we have in this locality. I hear that our Amalgamated Shearers' and Laborers' Union have written to Mr Buxton asking him to come forward as their candidate in the coming election. Now I saw by my paper that 13 branches of the Amalgamated Shearers' and Laborers' Union over on the other side have decided that eight hours shall be a day for work. Now Mr Buxton said he would go dead against it, for the farmers wanted the men in fine weather to work all the hours they could see in hay and harvest time. Now that means 12 to 14 hours in one day—and all the world agitating for eight hours to be a day! Now this reminds me of the Prohibitionist who went to a man that owns two hotels to ask his opinion on Prohibition, and 1 am told the Good Templars have done the same. Now I never did think the Good Templars so spiteful against the poor publioans as they would wish the world to believe, and I am right in my opinion, for they have written to a proprietor of two hotels to come forward in their interests—to help to split the votes.. Ladies, I hope you will think of this on the election day, and not be led away by those respectable ladies who do not mind soiling their white hands to throw dirt in the face of those men who worked hard night and day to give you this great privilege. Do not be one of the ungrateful. I hear there is a political ball floating iu the air. I have not seen it yet, but it will be seen plain enough on election day rolling in the roads ; but I am not in the least timid about it. There was something very similar close on twelve years ago, and when that ball burst sometfiing came out which did not smell anything like violets.—l am, etc., G. EDG3LER, B.G.C.A.