A HINT TO NEW MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2774, 4 January 1878, Page 3

A HINT TO NEW MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.

(To tho Editor of the Evening Star.)

Sin,~l, with a degree of diffidence, venture to offer a few hints on this important subject. It is right that now nnd inexperienced members should enter the House escorted by a mcuiW friend,, receive his obligation aud take his sent, then with patienco to attend to nil that is said and done, making himself master of all the rules and regulations by which the Houso in guided. Whilo thus quietly getting initiated he will soon find out two prominent speakers address tho House— one the Premier nnd loader of the Government then in power, and the other tho leader of the Opposition—after what may appear as only waste of time, with a useless routine of preliminaries, yet ho is still learning, Ultimately some important subject is introduced and fully and freely discussed; he is at no loss (if he is endowed with the ordinary powers of penetration) to conclude in his mind which of the two leaders most directly approaches and minutely sifts all the bearings of the subject, and then in plain languago states whether the proposed measure, if passed, would or would not benefit the country. Our pupil will soon observe one of the leaders unsparingly broadcast sowing a whole budget of plausibilities about the benefits which are immediately to flow from this most liberal measure, which is sure to bo hailed by tho country; all the whilo studiously avoiding to touch its real merits. His fulsome laudations may so far show the cloven foot as to eonTince the learner that the proposed measure is in reality meant, although under cloak, to benefit a certain person or party. After this rudimentary lesson our aspirant will feel at no loss to choose his leader, and let him not feel in the least dismayed to join the minority, no matter how small: this to a patriot is quite unworthy of consideration, although I am compelled to confess that it is in too many cases the principal consideration with members as well as newspapers conductors. I would on this point solicit attention to the laudable perseverance of the late Joseph Hume, who, in the British House of Commons, had for over twenty years struggled in the minority, whose measure, the Beform Bill, has now for many years been the law of the land, and the bulwark of the people's rights, although honest Joseph was not spared to see his darling and most beneficial scheme ushered into existence and placed so prominently on the Statuteßook. One word in conclusion; let us hope that none of our members shall ever again descend to utter tho debasing doctrine that more good is to be, and is, done by cajoling and wheedling the Ministry than by open petition and demanding the people's just rights. Now, although it is quite necessary to select and join a party, still we say let no man, like one member for the East Coast, barter his mind by pinning his political creed and actions to the coat tail of any party, for this reason, that he does not know how soon that party may deviate and depart from the proper path ; yet as well may we expect the waters of our rivers to maintain their course unmixed with the genial ocean as to expect any member single-handed to reform the institutions of the country. As it is always more manly and dignified to espouse tho part of the weak against the oppression of the strong, so it is more patriotic to join the minority in their struggle of defending the right, rfow, should any Ministry really require a whip, or rather what I would term a broom, let them take Franklin's advice—"lf you want a faithful servant serve yourself."—l am, 4c, Eabnest.