THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1894. THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2708, 6 September 1894, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1894. THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS.

Since the present Government took office Opposition members and newspapers have never tired of taunting their supporters with being over loyal to their leaders. They have been called the “ servile followers” of the Government; they have been compared to sheep led to the slaughter; they were led by the-nose : they have no minds of their own; they only do what they are told; and so on ; but Sir Robert Stout capped all by calling them “dumb dogs.” It is a pity that someone did not remind Sir Robert Stout of the time when he would have gladly welcomed the assistance of such “dumb dogs;” it is a pity he was not reminded of the session of 1885, when the fiscal policy of his Government was thrown back his teeth, and the cry of “keep the ministeps jn and measures out ” was raised, and it is stilj. a greater pity that he was not told that by sticking to office after sustaining such a crashing defeat «s he did then he nearly ruined the Liberal party and threw them back four years. There can be no doubt of Ui *. If Sir Robert Stout had gone to tu*-. • w be n defeated on the tariff the country M have improved the question, he worn- aU d instead position of the Liberal party, • of doing so, as any man of spirit .. have done, he stuck, with leech-like tenacity, to office, and wrecked the party. It is not Sir Robert Stout who ought to use taunts like these; he ought to let the Opposition enjoy the luxury of making themselves ridiculous by attempting to make loyalty appear a vice instead of a virtue. From our earliest years we have been taught to regard loyalty 10 any given cause as a virtue ; loyalty to comrades, loyalty to Wends, loyalty to one’s country, loyalty to one’s leaders, loyalty in every.shape and form, has been hold up as one of the best traits in human character. Sculptors have raised monuments to loyalty; poets have made it the theme of thrilling song; artists have pourtrayed it in the most glowing colors ; the historic nr use has found no nobler subject for immortalising in its imperishable pages; loyalty has been rewarded and honored by Kings and Princes, for loyalty marks the true, the sincere, and the noble man. In every country, and in every walk of life, loyalty has been honored, revered, and respected ; but hero, iu New Zealand, Liberal members who are loyal to their pledges and their leaders are characterised as “ dumb dogs.” Shame i What are we coming to 1 Are we degenerating to such a degraded level that what the whole world regards as a virtue is to be held up by us as a vice 1 The worst of it all is that it appears the tauut has had its effect. “ Constant

dripping wears the stone,” and the everlasting reiteration of this ridiculous accusation has evidently had, the desired effect on some of the least, experienced and the most brainless of theGovernmeut followers. They cannot see that this continual repetition of thia idiotic cry is a'deliberate and deep-laid device to drive them to rebel against their own leaders, and so as to show off their independence they have on several occasions voted against the Ministry. They want to show that they are not “ dumb dogs,” but they ought to beware lest a wider constituency than the walls of Parliament contain may not characterise them as “braying asses.” If they had any sense they would feel flattered by being characterised as “.dumb dogs,” for no greater compliment could be paid them. It sums up in one word the fact that they are loyally supporting the Government, and that is the best service they can render the country. Let them not make a mistake. No Government ever inspired such confidence as the present one ; none has come through so trying an ordeal with cleaner hands, and none has grasped with so progressive a spirit the social problems of the day. The country recognises it, and those who are so industriously endeavoring to weaken their influence will awaken to realise their folly some day.